ORLANDO, Fla. – Even though Hurricane Kirk is over 2,000 miles away from Florida, we will still see its impact here at our Central Florida beaches.
Kirk will stay far from Florida and continues to strengthen in the Atlantic. It is expected to become the third major hurricane of the season by the end of the week, reaching maximum wind speeds of 125 mph.
As of Wednesday morning, Kirk is about 2,657 miles away from the Sunshine State and is expected to send large swells here by the weekend.
The hurricane will be at its closest to Florida on Saturday, about 1,816 miles away, before a gradual turn to the north-northwest by the end of the week.
There will be a high rip current risk throughout the weekend and waves will be 6-10 feet along the coast. Waters will be at a moderate chop to choppy.
The large swells and rip current risk will subside next week.
Central Florida will also see a surge in tropical moisture by the end of the weekend. Click here to see the timing and impacts.
How to spot, escape rip currents
If you’re out at the beach this weekend, here is how to spot a rip current and how to escape one if you get caught in it.
A rip current is the narrow stream of water moving away and oftentimes perpendicular to the shoreline.
How to spot a rip current
It is easier to spot a rip current if you are up high.
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Look for a narrow gap of darker, calmer water between breaking waves or whitewater.
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A channel of churning, choppy water.
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A line of foam, seaweed or debris moving out to sea.
How to escape
It is important to note that rip currents do not drag you under water, they pull you away from the beach.
If you find yourself caught in a rip current, the most important thing to do is not panic as this can quickly lead to exhaustion. Getting out of a rip current is simple if you are thinking clearly.
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Do not swim against the current (straight back to the beach)
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Since these swiftly-moving channels of water are mostly narrow, about 10-20 feet, you can swim out of them by swimming parallel to the beach in either direction.
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If you find yourself not able to escape the rip current, calmly tread water. Rip currents tend to weaken offshore. Once you are in a weak point, swim back to shore.
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If you feel like you are unable to escape the rip current, face the beach and get the attention of a lifeguard or people on the beach by waving your arms and yelling.
It is important to know the beach conditions prior to going to the beach and it is always important to check with a lifeguard and obey any warnings given at the beach.
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