ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Beach lovers might have been hoping for one more good weekend down the Shore before it cools down, but rough surf from Hurricane Lee, hundreds of miles off the East Coast, has prompted officials to close beaches for swimming.
There are red flags on beaches up and down the Shore. The mayor of Seaside Heights says a patrolman will show up if anyone goes in to swim. And anyone who doesn’t obey when police tell them to get out of the water can expect a summons and a fine of up to $1000.
Steve Downey, Atlantic City’s beach patrol chief, says if common sense doesn’t steer people away from the violent waves, his team will.
“Right now we’re looking at just massive waves, out of control,” Downey said. “Our guys are all over, going up and down the beach and letting people know, making sure they’re aware.”
Downey says ankle deep is about as far as you can go.
“They can just take a look and realize that it’s just going to sweep their legs out from underneath them and take them out to sea.”
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Downey says the they are being more lenient on surfers, letting them take on as much risk as they’re comfortable with, for now.
“Surfing is pretty much at your own risk. We know they’ve been waiting all year for it. And here, we know most of them anyway. The guys that aren’t good enough to be out here, that shows and they know it.”
Most experienced surfers know when to quit, he said.
On Saturday, lifeguards were out patrolling beaches in Ocean City New Jersey where surfers came out bright and early to take advantage of the waves.
“Water's crazy,” said Cooper Lysinger.
Lysinger says the waves are bigger than what he’s used to.
“I just surfed. I got one wave and it was bigger, but it’s doable. It’s a little mushy.”
By mushy, he means the waves may be taller but there’s not a lot force pushing them to the Shore. He says that surfers study the ocean and tend to paddle out in groups to keep an eye on each other, adding that people should not go out in the water if they don't know what they are doing.
John Harris was watching the water from the boardwalk and says people could get really hurt in these waves.
“They’d get driven down to the bottom in this surf. In fact, this kind of surf is dangerous.”
Atlantic City says beach patrol will be walking the shore to remind people not to swim.
Downey says they will reassess on Sunday and allow swimming if it’s safe, but that doesn’t look likely if the forecast holds up.