Hurricane Erin could mean dangerous rip currents at NYC beaches this week
Aug. 18, 2025, 3:43 p.m.
Seven people drowned at NYC beaches last year, including several amid rip current warnings.
Great weather doesn’t always mean great beach days.
As the city gets a break from the intense heat and humidity this week, Hurricane Erin is expected to bring dangerous coastal conditions to New York City shores.
According to the National Weather Service, the hurricane, which was a category 4 storm almost 900 miles away from the city Monday afternoon, could cause 10- to 15-foot waves late Wednesday into Thursday along with potential rip currents.
”As you go further east, offshore Long Island, that's where we're expecting the largest of those waves to occur, " said Dave Radell, a meteorologist with the NWS New York.
⚠️Even with Hurricane Erin expected to pass well south, ocean/coastal impacts will be felt locally as the week progresses. High surf, minor coastal flooding, and rip currents are all possible. Check out our beach/surf forecast through the week at: https://t.co/m515lXJhJS pic.twitter.com/I91UBcYkFh
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) August 18, 2025
The NWS also expects an increase in rip current activity along the New York City and Long Island beaches, along with minor coastal flooding during high tide across the south shores of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island starting Wednesday and peaking Thursday. The NWS Monday rated the risk of rip current occurring “moderate,” the middle tier level.
“ That means that the surf zone area just adjacent to the beach is going to be dangerous for swimmers, with those very challenging conditions within the surf zone, with water going all over the place in addition to these large breaking waves that are coming out and emanating up from Hurricane Erin,” Radell said.
Seven people drowned at city beaches in the summer of 2024, the most of any year since 2019. Those included two teenage sisters in the waters of Coney Island and two teens who died off the shore of Jacob Riis Park in Queens amid rip currents.
A cold front that passed through the area overnight Sunday into Monday morning brought cooler temperatures and dry conditions to the area. Skies are also expected to stay sunny through Friday.
[6:08am]: Good Morning! A cooler and less humid feel this morning as a cold front passed through overnight. Here are your 6am temperatures--we rebound into the mid and upper 70s today. Full forecast at https://t.co/wTqdsomHTB pic.twitter.com/oaxYb17I7b
— NWS New York NY (@NWSNewYorkNY) August 18, 2025
“So not-great beach days at all coming up, even though the weather will be nice,” Radell said. “The coastal areas and certainly the ocean is going to be a little bit rough from the impacts of Erin passing well to our south.”
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- If there isn’t a lifeguard on duty, don’t swim. All but one of the 13 deaths at Rockaway’s beaches since 2019 happened during hours when lifeguards were off duty.
- If you’re caught in a rip current, don’t panic. Experts recommend relaxing and not wasting your energy fighting the current. Instead, wait for it to subside, then swim parallel to the beach until you find calmer water and swim to shore.
- Don’t be a hero: Trying to rescue someone who’s struggling in the water can also land you in trouble. Instead, alert a lifeguard if you see someone caught in a current and leave any further assistance to professionals.
— Based on previous reporting by Liam Quigley