FLZ168-172-173-111700- /O.NEW.KMFL.CF.S.0008.100311T0900Z-100312T0000Z/ COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-COASTAL MIAMI DADE- 359 AM EST THU MAR 11 2010 STRONG GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 15 TO 20 KTS, COMBINED WITH LOW TIDE BETWEEN 11 AM AND 12 NOON, HAVE LEAD TO A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES OF PALM BEACH, BROWARD AND MIAMI DADE COUNTIES. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A RIP CURRENT IS A 10 TO 30 YARD WIDE CHANNEL OF WATER THAT CAN PULL EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER FROM NEAR OR INSIDE THE SAND BAR INTO DEEPER WATER. DUE TO THE LIFE THREATENING DANGERS THAT THESE STRONG CURRENTS OF WATER POSE...SWIMMING IS NOT ADVISED. IF YOU DO GO INTO THE WATERS...SWIM AT GUARDED BEACHES AND HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL. IF CAUGHT IN THE SEAWARD PULL OF A RIP CURRENT DO NOT ATTEMPT TO MOVE DIRECTLY TOWARD SHORE. INSTEAD...MOVE SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE RIP CURRENT UNTIL THE PULL EASES. AN ALTERNATE METHOD OF ESCAPE IS TO LET THE RIP CURRENT PULL YOU SEAWARD 50 TO 100 YARDS...WHERE THE FORCE WEAKENS...AND THEN SWIM TOWARD THE BEACH AT AN ANGLE AWAY FROM THE CURRENT. && $$