Watch: Heavy Surf Keeps Swimmers Out of the Water at Local Beaches

Heavy surf, producing rip currents and weather advisories, kept the ocean off-limits to swimmers in most local communities, where lifeguards were on weekend duty following last week’s Labor Day holiday.

(A full update on the rip currents, plus current advisories, continues underneath the photos of today’s waves.)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

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A sign indicating no lifeguards on duty in Bay Head, N.J. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Lifeguards keep watch over the beach in Ortley Beach, N.J. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

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Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Heavy surf leads to dangerous rip currents, Sept. 10, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

In Ocean County, waves whipped up by a combination of the moon phase and the remnants of Hurricane Earl, now a post-tropical cyclone hovering off the Canadian Maritimes, produced seas of more than 5-feet offshore, large waves at beaches and strong rip currents. A rip current advisory was in effect through Sunday, as well as a small craft advisory.

“Entering the surf is discouraged,” the advisory, which expires 6 p.m. Sunday, said.

The National Weather Service was forecasting 5-foot seas Sunday, foggy conditions at times, and continued rip currents at the shoreline.

“Waves and winds should subside a bit, however, a long period easterly swell will continue,” the NWS said in a statement. “Therefore, a high risk for dangerous rip currents at New Jersey and Delaware beaches continues through Sunday.”

By Monday, winds and waves are forecast subside further, leading the NWS to forecast a moderate risk for the formation of dangerous rip currents on Monday.

“As a reminder, many beaches now have limited to no lifeguards present,” the statement said.

The NWS also warned of a mild to moderate threat of coastal flooding Sunday, though mainly during the AM high tide period.