NOUS42 KCHS 031057
PNSCHS
GAZ087-088-099>101-114>119-137>141-SCZ040-042>045-047>051-031800-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHARLESTON SC
500 AM EDT WED JUN 6 2007

RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK CONTINUES TODAY WITH THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE RIP CURRENT PROGRAM.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE...NATIONAL SEA GRANT AND THE UNITED 
STATES LIFESAVING ASSOCIATION ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO RAISE 
AWARENESS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF RIP CURRENTS. RESEARCH IS CONTINUING 
IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE ABILITY TO PREDICT THE OCCURRENCE AND 
STRENGTH OF RIP CURRENTS. THE GOAL OF THIS AWARENESS AND RESEARCH IS 
TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF RIP CURRENT RELATED DEATHS THAT 
UNFORTUNATELY OCCUR.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN CHARLESTON ISSUES A SURF ZONE 
FORECAST FOR ALL BEACHES IN SOUTHEAST SOUTH CAROLINA AND SOUTHEAST 
GEORGIA AT LEAST TWICE A DAY. THIS INCLUDES IN THE FOLLOWING BEACHES 
IN SOUTH CAROLINA...CAPE ROMAIN...ISLE OF PALMS...SULLIVANS 
ISLAND...FOLLY BEACH...KIAWAH ISLAND...EDISTO BEACH...HUNTING 
ISLAND...FRIPP ISLAND... HILTON HEAD ISLAND AND DAUFUSKIE ISLAND. 

THE FOLLOWING BEACHES ARE INCLUDED FOR SOUTHEAST GEORGIA...TYBEE 
ISLAND...OSSABAW ISLAND...WASSAW ISLAND...SAINT CATHERINES ISLAND 
AND SAPELO ISLAND.  

THE FORECAST IS ISSUED IN THE EARLY MORNING AROUND 4 AM AND AGAIN IN 
THE EVENING AROUND 8 PM. EACH FORECAST INCLUDES INFORMATION ON THE 
EXPECTED RIP CURRENT OUTLOOK AT THE AREA BEACHES. THE EARLY MORNING 
FORECAST IS A FORECAST FOR THE UPCOMING DAY...WHILE THE EVENING 
FORECAST INCLUDES AN OUTLOOK FOR THE FOLLOWING DAY.

THE RIP CURRENT OUTLOOK IS A THREE-TIERED QUALIFIER SYSTEM. LOW 
RISK...MODERATE RISK...OR HIGH RISK. THIS OUTLOOK IS THEN 
COMMUNICATED TO LIFEGUARDS...EMERGENCY MANAGERS...THE MEDIA AND THE 
PUBLIC.

A LOW RISK MEANS THAT WIND AND OR WAVE CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED 
TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF RIP CURRENTS...ALTHOUGH THEY STILL CAN 
OCCUR NEAR GROINS...JETTIES AND PIERS. 

A MODERATE RISK MEANS THAT WIND AND OR WAVE CONDITIONS SUPPORT 
STRONGER OR MORE FREQUENT RIP CURRENTS. ONLY EXPERIENCED SURF 
SWIMMERS SHOULD ENTER THE WATER.

AND A HIGH RISK MEANS THAT WIND AND OR WAVE CONDITIONS SUPPORT 
DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS...AND THAT THEY ARE LIFE THREATENING TO 
ANYONE ENTERING THE WATER. NO ONE SHOULD ENTER THE WATER DURING A 
HIGH RISK.

ANYTIME YOU ARE AT THE BEACH YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF THE RIP CURRENT 
OUTLOOK. ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS. ONLY SWIM 
AT BEACHES THAT HAVE LIFEGUARDS.

TO OBTAIN THE LATEST SURF ZONE BEACH FORECAST WITH THE RIP CURRENT 
INFORMATION...GO TO OUR WEB SITE AT...WWW.WEATHER.GOV/CHS.

OR LISTEN TO THE FORECAST ON NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS.  

BE HERE AGAIN TOMORROW FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RIP CURRENTS.

$$