Rough surf kept swimmers out of Atlantic waters as Hurricane Bill passed offshore on August 22-23, 2009. Similar conditions are expected as Tropical Storm Danny makes its way along the Northeast coast.

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Date: August 28, 2009
Contact: Jay Lippert, 631-687-4757
Contact: Paula Valentine, 631-687-4759

Patchogue, New York — Fire Island National Seashore has announced for the second consecutive weekend that Fire Island beaches will be closed to swimming due to the effects of a passing storm. Last weekend, Hurricane Bill passed about 250 miles east of Montauk Point, with no local rainfall but hazardous surf conditions were felt on the South Shore of Long Island August 22-23. This weekend, Tropical Storm Danny is expected to follow a similar path, but is expected to be as close as 130 miles east of Montauk Point.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a Small Craft Advisory for eastern New York from noon on Friday, August 28, to 6:00 p.m. Saturday. Surf conditions are expected to start building by Saturday afternoon, with the potential for dangerous rip currents. As of Friday afternoon, the National Weather Service estimated that seas will build to 6 to 12 feet on Saturday. The closure for swimming within Fire Island National Seashore is expected to be in effect throughout this weekend.

For More Information:

National Hurricane Center advisories: www.nhc.noaa.gov

National Weather Service weather forecast for Ocean Beach, Fire Island

National Weather Service Marine Forecasts for east New York: www.nws.noaa.gov/om/marine/zone/east/okxmz.htm

For more information about Fire Island National Seashore closures, contact Chief Ranger Jay Lippert at 631-687-4757, or visit the park’s home page at www.nps.gov/fiis.

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Link to a PDF version of this press release.