792
WHCA42 TJSJ 190114
CFWSJU
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
914 PM AST WED FEB 18 2026
PRZ001-002-005-008-010-012-VIZ001-190915-
/O.EXT.TJSJ.RP.S.0008.260219T0114Z-260221T1000Z/
SAN JUAN AND VICINITY-NORTHEAST-NORTH CENTRAL-NORTHWEST-
MAYAGUEZ AND VICINITY-CULEBRA-
ST.THOMAS...ST. JOHN...AND ADJACENT ISLANDS-
914 PM AST WED FEB 18 2026
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...
* WHAT...LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS.
* WHERE...BEACHES ALONG THE NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST COASTS OF
PUERTO RICO, CULEBRA, ST. THOMAS, AND ST. JOHN.
* WHEN...THROUGH LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.
* IMPACTS...RIP CURRENTS CAN SWEEP EVEN THE BEST SWIMMERS AWAY
FROM SHORE INTO DEEPER WATER, WHERE IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO
RETURN TO SAFETY.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A LONG-PERIOD NORTHERLY SWELL IS
APPROACHING THE ATLANTIC BEACHES OF THE ISLANDS, EXPECTED TO
SPREAD ACROSS THE LOCAL WATERS OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS. THIS
SWELL IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE LARGE BREAKING WAVES BETWEEN 6 AND
12 FEET, PARTICULARLY AFTER NOON THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HIGH
SURF CONDITIONS AND LIFE- THREATENING RIP CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED
ALONG THE NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST COASTS OF PR, CULEBRA, AND THE
NORTHERN U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. A HIGH SURF ADVISORY COULD BE
ISSUED LATER TONIGHT OR TOMORROW.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.
RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE, WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS, JETTIES
AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS, BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND
SIGNS.
IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT, YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN
CALM, DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR
HELP. IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT, SWIM PARALLEL TO
SHORE AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.
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