Florida to see strong rip currents as Hurricane Kirk churns 2,000 miles away. What to know, what to do

ORLANDO, Fla. – While Hurricane Kirk is 2,000 miles away, Florida will still see impacts along the East Coast from the major hurricane.

Large swells are expected to reach the East Coast by Sunday. Kirk is currently a major Category 4 hurricane but is expected to begin weakening on Saturday.

The hurricane will be at its closest to Florida on Saturday, still over 1,800 miles away, before a gradual turn to the north-northwest over the weekend.

The large swells and rip current risk from Kirk will subside next week.

Before the swells from Kirk reach the coast, there is a high rip current risk through Friday night in coastal Volusia and Brevard counties.

The warning comes after an 86-year-old Longwood man died Thursday after getting caught in a rip current off Daytona Beach Shores.

How to spot, escape rip currents

If you’re at the beach this weekend, here is how to spot a rip current and how to escape one if you get caught in it.

A rip current is the narrow stream of water moving away and oftentimes perpendicular to the shoreline.

How to spot

It is easier to spot a rip current if you are up high.

• Look for a narrow gap of darker, calmer water between breaking waves or whitewater.

• A channel of churning, choppy water.

• A line of foam, seaweed or debris moving out to sea.

How to escape

It is important to note that rip currents do not drag you under water, they pull you away from the beach.

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, the most important thing to do is not panic as this can quickly lead to exhaustion. Getting out of a rip current is simple if you are thinking clearly.

• Do not swim against the current (straight back to the beach)

• Since these swiftly-moving channels of water are mostly narrow, about 10-20 feet, you can swim out of them by swimming parallel to the beach in either direction.

• If you find yourself not able to escape the rip current, calmly tread water. Rip currents tend to weaken offshore. Once you are in a weak point, swim back to shore.

• If you feel like you are unable to escape the rip current, face the beach and get the attention of a lifeguard or people on the beach by waving your arms and yelling.

It is important to know the beach conditions prior to going to the beach and it is always important to check with a lifeguard and obey any warnings given at the beach.

“Come up and talk to the people that are here working that beach that day,” said shift supervisor Steve Fender, of Brevard County Ocean Rescue. “Ask them where the most troublesome spots are.”

Brevard County said there have been more than 400 rip current-related water rescues this year but no fatalities.

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