Rip Current Advisory For Brooklyn, Long Island Shores This Weekend

BROOKLYN, NY — This weekend along the Brooklyn and Long Island shorelines, a life-threatening rip current is forecasted, officials from the U.S. National Weather Service said.

The official rip current advisory is active from now until Saturday night at 9 p.m., but rip current conditions are expected to continue throughout the weekend, so it's best to avoid the water altogether. In Long Island, the areas expected to be impacted are Southwest Suffolk, Southeast Suffolk, Southern Queens and Southern Nassau Counties.

A rip current is a strong ocean flow that can drag even the strongest swimmers far away from the shore into deeper water. For all beach goers it is recommended to stay out of the surf zone — the spot between the shore and the breaking waves — and stay near a lifeguard on duty.

If you do get caught in the rip current, stay calm and float, rather than try to swim against it. If possible, swim parallel to the shoreline to break free. And always face the shore and wave your arms and call for help.