HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
Issue Date: 832 AM EST WED DEC 23 2009
Expiration: 700 PM EST WED DEC 23 2009

...HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES...
...THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE THURSDAY BUT BETTER CHANCE CHRISTMAS DAY...
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.
.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT
RIP CURRENTS: NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS WITH
OCCASIONAL GUSTS AS HIGH AS 25 KNOTS COUPLED WITH A NORTHEAST
SWELL OF 2 TO 3 FEET WILL MEAN A HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP
CURRENTS AT ALL ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES TODAY.
NO OTHER HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY
ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS, MAINLY OVER THE ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS,
WILL BE POSSIBLE THURSDAY. THERE WILL BE A BETTER CHANCE OF
THUNDERSTORMS, SOME POSSIBLY PRODUCING HEAVY RAINS, ON CHRISTMAS DAY
OVER ALL OF MAINLAND SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE ADJACENT COASTAL
WATERS.
THERE WILL BE A CONTINUING RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AT ALL
ATLANTIC COAST BEACHES THURSDAY DIMINISHING SOMEWHAT ON CHRISTMAS
DAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED TODAY. SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS
ENCOURAGED FOR LOCAL REPORTS OF WIND OR HEAVY RAIN ON THURSDAY AND
CHRISTMAS DAY.
FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.
$$

COASTAL FLOOD STATEMENT
Issue Date: 411 AM EST WED DEC 23 2009
Expiration: 600 PM EST WED DEC 23 2009

...HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ATLANTIC BEACHES...
FLZ168-172-173-231715-
/O.NEW.KMFL.CF.S.0043.091223T0911Z-091223T2300Z/
COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-
411 AM EST WED DEC 23 2009
EASTERLY WINDS AROUND 15 TO 20 KNOTS, COMBINED WITH A 2 TO 3 FOOT
NORTHEAST SWELL, HAVE LEAD TO HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE
BEACHES OF PALM BEACH, BROWARD AND MIAMI DADE.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A RIP CURRENT IS A 10 TO 30 YARD WIDE CHANNEL OF WATER THAT CAN
PULL EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER FROM NEAR OR INSIDE THE SAND BAR INTO
DEEPER WATER. DUE TO THE LIFE THREATENING DANGERS THAT THESE
STRONG CURRENTS OF WATER POSE...SWIMMING IS NOT ADVISED.
IF YOU DO GO INTO THE WATERS...SWIM AT GUARDED BEACHES AND HEED
THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL. IF CAUGHT IN THE SEAWARD PULL OF A
RIP CURRENT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE DIRECTLY TOWARD SHORE.
INSTEAD...MOVE SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE RIP CURRENT UNTIL THE PULL
EASES.
AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF ESCAPE IS TO LET THE RIP CURRENT PULL YOU
SEAWARD 50 TO 100 YARDS...WHERE THE FORCE WEAKENS...AND THEN SWIM
TOWARD THE BEACH AT AN ANGLE AWAY FROM THE CURRENT.
$$