South Shore Beaches Closed For Swimming Due To Hurricane Franklin

LONG ISLAND, NY — Swimming is banned at several South Shore beaches Wednesday, due to conditions caused by Hurricane Franklin.

Robert Moses, Jones Beach, Smith Point, Hither Hills, and Long Beach have prohibited bathing due to abnormal high tides. Governor Kathy Hochul directed the swimming suspensions due to flooding and rough surf conditions resulting from Hurricane Franklin.

"As peak hurricane season approaches, the safety of all New Yorkers remains my top priority," Hochul said. “With tropical storms and hurricanes affecting our beaches on Long Island, we are taking proactive steps to protect New Yorkers, and I urge everyone to remain vigilant."

A high surf advisory risk went into effect at 2 p.m., as large breaking waves of 6 to 8 feet are expected in the surf zone, the National Weather Service said.

Dangerous rip currents are also expected until 8 p.m.

"Even if they are far away, hurricanes and tropical storms are powerful events that cause dangerous and unpredictable conditions at our swimming beaches," said New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid. "We urge all park visitors to take these events seriously and follow all direction of our lifeguards and park staff.”

The Category 2 storm lashed Bermuda on Wednesday as the Category 2 storm was forecast to pass near the island located in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Associated Press said.

It had maximum sustained winds of 105 mph was moving northeast at 13 mph.

The swimming bans follow Hurricane Idalia's contact with Florida's Big Bend region on Wednesday morning, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula.

More than 270,400 Floridians were without power shortly after 2 p.m., and two people have so far died from the hurricane.