485
WHCA42 TJSJ 230655
CFWSJU
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
255 AM AST THU APR 23 2026
PRZ001-002-005-008-010-012-VIZ001-232200-
/O.EXT.TJSJ.RP.S.0016.260423T1000Z-260424T1000Z/
SAN JUAN AND VICINITY-NORTHEAST-NORTH CENTRAL-NORTHWEST-
MAYAGUEZ AND VICINITY-CULEBRA-
ST.THOMAS...ST. JOHN...AND ADJACENT ISLANDS-
255 AM AST THU APR 23 2026
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM AST THIS MORNING
THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
* WHAT...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK, LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS.
* WHERE...BEACHES ALONG THE NORTHWEST TO NORTHEAST BEACHES OF
PUERTO RICO, CULEBRA, ST. THOMAS, AND ST. JOHN.
* WHEN...FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
* 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 NORTH TO NORTHWEST SWELL WILL
SPREAD ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS OVERNIGHT THROUGH THIS EVENING.
THIS WILL INCREASE THE SURF HEIGHTS AND RIP CURRENT RISK ALONG
THE NORTH FACING BEACHES OF PUERTO RICO, CULEBRA, ST. THOMAS,
AND ST. JOHN.
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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