WHUS44 KMOB 030251 CFWMOB COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOBILE AL 951 PM CDT THU MAY 2 2013 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... .STRONG EASTERLY WINDS OVER THE MARINE AREA WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE AND BECOME MORE NORTHEASTERLY THROUGH TONIGHT. THE STRONG WINDS WILL BRING A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS THROUGH THIS EVENING. ALZ063-064-FLZ002-004-006-030500- /O.CON.KMOB.RP.S.0009.000000T0000Z-130503T0500Z/ LOWER MOBILE-LOWER BALDWIN-COASTAL ESCAMBIA-COASTAL SANTA ROSA- COASTAL OKALOOSA- 951 PM CDT THU MAY 2 2013 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT CDT TONIGHT... * TIMING...THROUGH THIS EVENING. * IMPACTS...LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. BE WATCHFUL FOR BREAKS IN THE SURF LINE WHERE AN INCREASING RIP CURRENT RISK MAY OCCUR. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS... JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS. IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY. $$