Hurricane Ernesto, a strengthening Category 1 storm, is set to bring dangerous swimming conditions to many New Jersey beaches this weekend. Although the hurricane will remain well offshore, it is expected to generate large swells and dangerous rip currents along the New Jersey and Delaware beaches. The National Weather Service has issued a warning of "very dangerous rip currents" and advises beachgoers to stay out of the water if red flags are waving and a lifeguard is not posted.
The hurricane, currently located about 350 miles south of Bermuda, is forecast to intensify, with its peak winds reaching 110 mph, just 1 mph under the threshold for becoming a “major” hurricane. The hurricane center expects Ernesto to spend the weekend near Bermuda before arcing toward the northeast and off the New England coast.
The effects of Ernesto may be evident as early as Friday, with the rip current risk possibly lingering into Monday, and possibly Tuesday. According to the National Weather Service, "The rip current risk will be high pretty much from Miami to Maine.”
In addition to rip currents, the Jersey shore could experience gusts of wind up to 30 miles per hour. The combination of Ernesto's swells, heavy winds, and a nearly full moon could create higher than normal tides, beach erosion, and increased flooding in low-lying areas. NBC New York reports that Ernesto-related alerts are popping up on the North Carolina Outer Banks, where 5-to-8-foot waves are likely at peak, and for waters near and east of the Florida peninsula, there could be 6-to-10-foot seas as close as 30 miles offshore on Friday.