Town Of Hempstead Beaches Shut To Swimming As Erin Churns Close To Shoreline

HEMPSTEAD, NY — While the brunt of Hurricane Erin is not forecasted to make a direct hit on Long Island, it is still expected to cause problems for the shoreline.

Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti announced on Tuesday that swimming will not be permitted at all town beaches through Thursday.

Dangerous rip tide conditions are possible on the South Shore. The National Weather Service issued a statement for the high risk of rip currents throughout the southern portion of Nassau County until 8 p.m. Friday.

NWS meteorologist John Engle told Patch on Monday that on Long Island, "We're looking more in the way of high surf and dangerous rip currents."

Swimming and surfing would be dangerous with the rip currents and localized beach erosion is also possible, the NWS said in its alert.

Long Island's South Shore is also under a high surf advisory through Friday evening. Large breaking waves of 7-11 feet are expected on Wednesday and up to 16 feet on Thursday, the National Weather Service.

On Tuesday afternoon, Erin was a Category 2 hurricane positioned approximately 600 miles east of North Carolina.