Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin on Friday, but Southwest Florida spent the weekend dealing with its aftermath anyway. Charlotte and Lee counties were under a high rip current risk for most of Sunday, with rough waves and elevated surf churning up the Gulf. The conditions were serious enough that organizers postponed day one of the Englewood Beach Waterfest races on Saturday, saying the big water would make it nearly impossible for safety crews to respond to an accident.
Sanibel Island saw winds around 16 mph and heavy surf through the weekend. That didn’t stop the shell hunters. Storms like this dredge up shells that rarely reach the beach, and collectors flocked to the shoreline for the bounty. One beachgoer said he stayed close to shore rather than swimming out like he usually does, noting the pass was pulling hard with the rip current.
Officials remind everyone that rip currents are a leading cause of beach drownings, and they can be hard to spot. If you get caught in one, don’t fight it. Float, then swim parallel to shore until you’re out of the current. Whether you’re out for shells or a swim, check the flags first.
Have you ever spotted a rip current before stepping in? Tell us what you saw.
