Unruly Seas Forecast For Long Beach Island Today

LONG BEACH ISLAND, NJ - If you value your life, stay out of the ocean today.

That's the message from the National Weather Service, which has issued both high surf and high rip current advisories for today.

"Dangerous and potentially life threatening conditions exist for all people entering the surf," the NWS says.

Waves today will be from 6 to 8 feet high, with southeasterly swells of 6 feet. The ocean water temperature is 74 degrees, although that may vary from beach to beach.

There are a few beaches left that will still be guarded, but chances are swimming will be restricted. Never swim on an unguarded beach and never, ever swim alone or night.

The Ocean City Beach Patrol will be guarding beaches from 10 a.m. until 5:30 pm. through Sept. 23. But the number of guards has been greatly reduced and the distance between stands is much greater than during the summer season. Swimmers are ask to swim only in front of lifeguards, according to the beach patrol's Facebook page.

Skies will be cloudy today. There is no lightning threat, so thunderstorms are unlikely. Highs today will be in the mid 70s. Winds will be from the east at 15 to 25 miles per hour.

The ultraviolet index is a 4, which the NWS considers low.

Low tide at Barnegat Inlet arrived at 5:56 a.m. High tide will roll in at 12:03 p.m., followed by another low tide at 6:32 p.m.

Photo: Courtesy of Surf City Beach Patrol