Florida, 2013

Rip Current in Florida, April 28, 2013

April 28, 2013 · NWS MFL · 1 event in 1 county or zone

S. caused an east wind along the Florida east coast of 15 to 20 mph.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
9
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS MFL wrote it up.

A ridge of high pressure over the eastern U.S. caused an east wind along the Florida east coast of 15 to 20 mph. This led to the formation of dangerous rip currents at the beaches along the northern coast of Palm Beach County.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Miami, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 28, 12:28 PM EST, 32 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Apr 28, 12:28 PM EST, 32 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
128 PM EDT SUN APR 28 2013

.AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS ARE ANTICIPATED THROUGH THE FORECAST WITH A
MODERATE ESE TO SE SURFACE WIND OCCASIONALLY GUSTING TO 20 KT. A
SLIGHT INCREASE IN MOISTURE AFT 12Z MONDAY COULD LEAD TO A FEW
SHRA LATER IN THE MORNING.

KOB

&&

.PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 901 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2013/

UPDATE...
PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES EXIST THIS MORNING...WITH MODEST
CONVERGENCE BANDS STREAMING WESTWARD FROM BAHAMAS. GRADUAL
INCREASE IN CU FIELD...WITH VERY ISOLATED SHOWERS EXPECTED TODAY.
TEMPERATURES WILL REACH NEAR NORMAL FOR EASTERN AREAS...WHEREAS
OFFSHORE WINDS ACROSS THE WEST WILL RESULT IN ABOVE NORMAL MAXIMA.
HIGH PRESSURE DOMINATES...BUT ITS CENTER WILL CONTINUE TO DRIFT
FURTHER EAST.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 643 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2013/

AVIATION...
VFR CONDITIONS UNDER HIGH PRESSURE FOR ONE MORE DAY. HIGH PRESSURE
WILL WEAKEN MONDAY AND SHOWER ACTIVITY WILL DEVELOP. BUT, FOR
TODAY, JUST ANOTHER DAY LIKE SATURDAY. SOME MID LEVEL CLOUDS, WITH
A SMALL CHANCE OF MVFR. WIND WILL CONTINUE TO BE GENERALLY
EASTERLY, AROUND 10 KTS, WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 20 KTS THIS
AFTERNOON. SOME LOCALIZED WINDS MAY BE CLOSER TO 15 KTS
SUSTAINED, BUT GUSTS WILL STILL BE TO AROUND 20 KTS. THERE IS, A
SLIGHT CHANCE OF A SHOWER , MAINLY AT KAPF, KMIA, AND KTMB. THE
CHANCE IS SMALL ENOUGH TO KEEP IT OMITTED FROM THE TAFS AT THIS
TIME.

PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 349 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2013/

DISCUSSION...
PATTERN SHIFT UNDERWAY AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO
SLOWLY INCREASE ACROSS DEEP SOUTH FLORIDA. A FEW SHOWERS HAVE
DEVELOPED OVER THE ATLANTIC WATERS AND DEEP SOUTH FLORIDA. THE
UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE REGION EARLY THIS MORNING WILL GET
SHOVED TO THE EAST OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC AS A SHORTWAVE MOVES
INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. WINDS MAY BE TOO STRONG TO GET A GULF COAST
SEA BREEZE GOING. HOWEVER...THERE WILL STILL BE LOW LEVEL SPEED
CONVERGENCE...AND THE COOLING AND MOISTENING ALOFT ACROSS THE GULF
COAST MAY BE ENOUGH FOR SOME SHOWERS TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON.
OTHERWISE...A WARM AND DRY DAY IS IN STORE FOR THE REGION.

MODELS ARE INDICATING THE MID/UPPER LEVEL HIGH PRESSURE WILL PUSH
EAST FASTER THAN EARLIER RUNS HAD SHOWN. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR A
FASTER RETURN OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AS SOUTHERLY LOW LEVEL FLOW
DEVELOPS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES ARE EXPECTED
TO INCREASE TO 1.6-1.7 INCHES...WHICH IS AROUND 2 STANDARD
DEVIATIONS ABOVE NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. A WEAK SHORTWAVE
IS FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE FLORIDA KEYS
LATE TONIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING...AND SHOWER ACTIVITY IS LIKELY
TO BEGIN INCREASING ACROSS DEEP SOUTH FLORIDA AND THE LOCAL WATERS
OVERNIGHT TONIGHT. SO BUMPED UP POPS ACROSS THE REGION FOR TONIGHT
AND MONDAY. GFS IS INDICATING 2200-2600 J/KG OF SURFACE BASED CAPE
AND 500MB TEMPS OF -12 TO -13C. WITH SEA BREEZE CONVERGENCE...A
FEW STRONG STORMS COULD OCCUR. STORM MOTION IS EXPECTED TO BE 5-10
KNOTS TO THE NORTH...SO LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS ALSO POSSIBLE.
SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE FORECAST TO CONTINUE INTO THE
EVENING AND THEN OVERNIGHT HOURS ALONG THE EAST COAST AS COASTAL
CONVERGENCE SETS UP.

ON TUESDAY...ZONAL FLOW ALOFT WILL CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA. A
MID/UPPER LEVEL LOW/SHORTWAVE IS FORECAST TO MOVE OVER
LOUISIANA...WITH A SURFACE TROUGH ALONG THE NORTHERN GULF COAST
TO THE EAST AND NORTHEAST TO ALONG THE CAROLINA COASTLINE. LOW/MID
LEVEL FLOW WILL BECOME SOUTHERLY TO SOUTHWESTERLY ON
TUESDAY...WITH STORM MOTION VERY SLOW TO THE NORTHEAST. SO THE
BEST CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED ACROSS PALM
BEACH COUNTY...WITH LESSER CHANCES ELSEWHERE. PRECIPITABLE WATER
VALUES WILL REMAIN ABOVE NORMAL ACROSS THE REGION...AND WITH THE
SLOW STORM MOTION...LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL WILL BE POSSIBLE.

THE LOW LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WILL TRY TO BUILD
SLIGHTLY TO THE WEST ON WEDNESDAY...WITH A LIGHT SOUTHEAST FLOW. A
SHORTWAVE MAY ALSO MOVE ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA...HELPING TO ENHANCE
SHOWERS AND STORMS ALONG THE SEA BREEZE BOUNDARIES.
HOWEVER...THERE ARE TIMING DIFFERENCES AMONG THE MODELS...AND THE
SHORTWAVE COULD VERY WELL MOVE ACROSS TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY
MORNING...AND HELPING NOCTURNAL SHOWERS AND STORMS ALONG THE EAST
COAST. EITHER WAY...SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE IN THE
FORECAST ONCE AGAIN.

AN OMEGA BLOCKING PATTERN WILL THEN TAKE SHAPE ACROSS THE CONUS AND
WESTERN ATLANTIC THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK AND INTO THE
WEEKEND...WITH LARGE CUTOFF UPPER LOWS TAKING SHAPE OVER THE
MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY AND OVER THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...AND AN
UPPER RIDGE SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN. THE MODELS HAVE COME INTO MUCH
BETTER AGREEMENT ON THE PLACEMENT OF THE UPPER LOW OVER THE
MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY. HOWEVER...THERE ARE MORE DIFFERENCES NOW
FOR THE SHORTWAVE/UPPER LOW THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE ACROSS THE
NORTHERN GULF COAST/SOUTHEAST ON WEDNESDAY. THE GFS HAS THE
SHORTWAVE SHEARING OUT...AND NO LONGER DEVELOPS AN AREA OF LOW
PRESSURE OVER FLORIDA THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. THE GFS THEN BRINGS IN
A BACKDOOR COLD FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT...WITH DRIER CONDITIONS FOR THE
WEEKEND. THE ECMWF STILL BRINGS THE SHORTWAVE SOUTHEAST...AND
DEVELOPS AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE NEAR SOUTH FLORIDA ON FRIDAY. LOW
LEVEL CONVERGENCE WOULD THEN CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND NORTH OF
THE LOW AS IT MOVED EAST...WITH HIGH RAIN CHANCES. SO THERE IS
STILL A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE FORECAST FOR THE END OF THE WEEK
INTO NEXT WEEKEND.

MARINE...
MODERATE EAST WINDS WILL PERSIST TODAY. ALTHOUGH AN
ADVISORY IS NOT EXPECTED...SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 15 KTS OVER
ATLANTIC WATERS ARE SUFFICIENT TO WARRANT SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE
CAUTION STATEMENT. SHOWER CHANCES INCREASE BEGINNING MONDAY
THROUGH THE WEEK...WITH A CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS AS WELL.

FIRE WEATHER...
MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD BE IN THE UPPER 30S TO MID
40S ACROSS THE INTERIOR TODAY...WITH GRADUALLY RISING HUMIDITY
LEVELS EARLY NEXT WEEK. ACROSS EASTERN/COASTAL AREAS...RELATIVE
HUMIDITY VALUES SHOULD REMAIN ABOVE 50 PERCENT THROUGH THE PERIOD.
EAST WINDS OF 10-15 MPH ARE FORECAST. THERE IS A CHANCE OF SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH THE WEEK.

&&

.MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...NONE.
AM...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&
Hazardous weather outlook, Apr 28, 9:23 AM EST, 3 hours 37 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR SOUTH FLORIDA
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MIAMI FL
1023 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2013

AMZ610-630-650-651-670-671-FLZ063-066>075-168-172>174-GMZ656-657-676-
290530-
LAKE OKEECHOBEE-BISCAYNE BAY-
COASTAL WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM
20 NM TO 60 NM-
WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM
TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS-GLADES-HENDRY-
INLAND PALM BEACH-METRO PALM BEACH-COASTAL COLLIER-INLAND COLLIER-
INLAND BROWARD-METRO BROWARD-INLAND MIAMI DADE-METRO MIAMI DADE-
MAINLAND MONROE-COASTAL PALM BEACH-COASTAL BROWARD-
COASTAL MIAMI DADE-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE, FL OUT 20 NM-
GULF WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM
20 TO 60 NM-
1023 AM EDT SUN APR 28 2013

...MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS FOR ATLANTIC BEACHES...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTH FLORIDA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

RIP CURRENTS: THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS FOR THE
ATLANTIC BEACHES TODAY AND TONIGHT.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. ISOLATED STRONG
THUNDERSTORMS COULD DEVELOP MONDAY.  THERE IS A HIGHER RISK OF
SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS...CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE HAIL AND
DAMAGING WINDS...ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

HEAVY RAINFALL MAY OCCUR WITH THESE THUNDERSTORMS...AND LOCALIZED
FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...PARTICULARLY ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

PERSISTENT ONSHORE WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE PERIOD AND
WILL KEEP A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IN PLACE AT THE ATLANTIC
BEACHES.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.

FOR MORE INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN
MIAMI WEBSITE AT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/MIAMI.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 rip current. Local standard time, as filed.

Rip Current, Coastal Palm Beach County

When
April 28, 1:00 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where
Coastal Palm Beach County forecast zone
Injuries
9 direct, 0 indirect
Reported by
Newspaper
Coordinates
26.648, -80.436 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several swimmers had to be rescued during the afternoon and early evening at the beaches along the coast of northern Palm Beach County, some nearly drowning.

The first report was just after 2 pm EDT at Ocean Cay Park in Jupiter where two people nearly drowned. They were pulled from the water and both were taken to Jupiter Medical Center where one was reported in critical condition. Around 445 PM, six other swimmers were also rescued from the dangerous rips in the same area with one was taken to Jupiter Medical Center.

Around 6 pm EDT, two male swimmers struggled in the waves at Lake Worth Pier but managed to reach shore and declined further treatment.

The last reported rescues were shortly after 7 pm EDT when eight other swimmers were caught in rip currents in two separate incidents off the Lake Worth Pier. Six of the swimmers nearly drowned and were taken to Bethesda Memorial Hospital in Boynton Beach and JFK Medical Center in Atlantis.

What these are

Rip Current
A narrow, fast current flowing away from the beach that caused a drowning or rescue.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Florida in 2013Every state in 2013This day in weather historyWarnings in Florida, April 2013

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 447148.