National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists in Alabama, Florida and California offer advice to residents of some cities: stay out of the ocean Due to hazardous conditions.

Mobile, Alabama and Tallahassee, Florida, NWS offices issued coastal hazards message On Thursday morning, the Los Angeles office issued one on Wednesday. All three messages warned people about dangerous ocean conditions caused by large water currents.aves and rip currents. In 2024, rip currents claimed the lives of 49 people ranging in age from 8 to 86, according to the NWS.

The Alabama warning has been issued for coastal portions of Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama and coastal portions of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in the Florida panhandle. The warning issued by Tallahassee applied to Franklin County beaches in the Florida panhandle. The Los Angeles warning was in effect for Catalina and Santa Barbara Islands.

The coastal message will remain in effect through Thursday afternoon in California, through the weekend in Florida and into Monday night in Alabama.

“Hazardous swimming and surfing conditions and local beach erosion. Ripple currents can sweep even the best swimmers offshore into deeper water,” the Mobile alert said.

NWS meteorologist David Reese said: news week It is stated that the waves are caused by the increasing swelling of Hurricane Rafael, a Category 2 hurricane churning in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Here in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, we are seeing an increasing surge with the circulation around Rafael going clockwise,” Reese said. “Now that Rafael is moving away from Cuba, most of the wind-generated waves and swell are moving toward the west coast of Florida.”

Rafael made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday afternoon before heading out into the Gulf.

Each alert warned people, especially inexperienced swimmers, to stay out of the ocean until calmer conditions emerged.

The California warning stated that “the risk of drowning in the ocean has increased.” “Deep currents can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can cause injuries, sweep people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats close to shore.”

Breaking waves up to 7 feet high were impacting the California islands. Waves of similar size were impacting Mobile beaches, with waves up to 6 feet hitting the Tallahassee forecast area.

“Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and swim,” the Mobile alert advised. “Do not swim against the current. If possible, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If you cannot escape, return to shore and call or wave for help.”

Reese advised beachgoers to be aware of beach flags if they travel to affected coastal areas over the weekend. A single red flag indicates rip currents are present, while a double red flag indicates beaches are closed.