RAINFALL. THAT’S ALL COMING UP IN JUST A FEW MINUTES. LIFEGUARDS SAY THEY’RE EXPECTING SOME CHOPPY SURF, STRONGER CURRENTS AND LARGE HOLIDAY CROWDS THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, CREATING A HIGHER RISK FOR WATER RESCUES AT LOCAL BEACHES. OCEAN RESCUE TEAMS SAY THEY’LL BE TAKING EXTRA PREVENTATIVE MEASURES, INCLUDING SPEAKING DIRECTLY WITH BEACHGOERS ABOUT DAILY SURF CONDITIONS, RIP CURRENTS AND OTHER WATER HAZARDS THEY’RE SEEING ALONG THE COAST. A LOT OF THE KIDS ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THE SUMMER GOING TO THE BEACH. FAMILIES WANT TO ENJOY THE, YOU KNOW, ENJOY THE OCEAN. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE MOST SAFETY INFORMATION POSSIBLE SO THAT WHEN FOLKS COME OUT TO THE BEACH THAT THEY CAN HAVE A NICE, SAFE BEACH DAY. LIFEGUARDS SAY EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS CAN GET CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT, ESPECIALLY DURING BUSY HOLIDAY WEEKENDS WHEN MORE PEOPLE ARE ENTERING THE WATER. OFFICIALS SAY ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS IS CHOOSING A GUARDED BEACH, WHERE LIFEGUARDS CAN QUICKLY RESPOND IF SOMEONE NEEDS HELP. IF YOU’RE STUCK IN A RIP CURRENT AND YOU CALL FOR HELP AND YOU’RE AT AN UNGUARDED BEACH, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A DELAY IN IN HELP FROM A LIFEGUARD OR A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC. THEY’RE ALSO URGING PEOPLE TO CHECK BEACH WARNING FLAGS BEFORE EVER GOING IN THE WATER AND EVEN TALKING TO LIFEGUARDS ABOUT THOSE CURRENT CONDITIONS. SO MOST IMPORTANT TO TO VISIT THOSE LIFEGUARDED BEACHES SO THAT YOU CAN A TALK TO THE LIFEGUARD ABOUT WHAT THE DANGERS ARE. AND B, IF YOU ARE IN TROUBLE, YOU CAN GET QUICK HELP. LIFEGUARDS SAY IF SOMEONE DOES GET CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT, THEY SHOULD STAY CALM, AVOID PANICKING AND SWIM PARALLEL TO THE SHO
Lifeguards warn of rip current dangers at Florida beaches this Memorial Day weekend
Updated: 9:30 AM EDT May 24, 2026
Ocean rescue officials in South Florida are warning beachgoers to take rip currents and changing surf conditions seriously as large crowds are expected over Memorial Day weekend. Lifeguards say they anticipate choppy surf, stronger currents, and large holiday crowds throughout the weekend, increasing the risk of water rescues at local beaches. Ocean rescue teams are taking extra preventative measures, including speaking directly with beachgoers about daily surf conditions, rip currents, and other water hazards along the coast. Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News”A lot of the kids are looking towards the summer, going to the beach. Families want to enjoy the, you know, enjoy the ocean. So we want to make sure that we can provide the most safety information possible so that when folks come out to the beach that they can have a nice, safe beach day,” said Ian Montgelas of Martin County Fire Rescue. Lifeguards caution that even experienced swimmers can get caught in rip currents, especially during busy holiday weekends when more people are entering the water. Officials stress the importance of choosing a guarded beach, where lifeguards can quickly respond if someone needs help. “If you’re stuck in a rip current and you call for help and you’re at an unguarded beach, you’re going to have a delay and help from a lifeguard or a member of the public,” Montgelas said. Beachgoers are also urged to check beach warning flags before entering the water and to talk with lifeguards about current conditions. “So, it is most important to visit those lifeguards on beaches so you can talk to the lifeguard about what the dangers are. And if you are in trouble, you can get quick help,” Montgelas said. Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.Lifeguards advise that if someone gets caught in a rip current, they should stay calm, avoid panicking, and swim parallel to the shore rather than trying to fight the current head-on.
JUNO BEACH, Fla. —
Ocean rescue officials in South Florida are warning beachgoers to take rip currents and changing surf conditions seriously as large crowds are expected over Memorial Day weekend.
Lifeguards say they anticipate choppy surf, stronger currents, and large holiday crowds throughout the weekend, increasing the risk of water rescues at local beaches. Ocean rescue teams are taking extra preventative measures, including speaking directly with beachgoers about daily surf conditions, rip currents, and other water hazards along the coast.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
“A lot of the kids are looking towards the summer, going to the beach. Families want to enjoy the, you know, enjoy the ocean. So we want to make sure that we can provide the most safety information possible so that when folks come out to the beach that they can have a nice, safe beach day,” said Ian Montgelas of Martin County Fire Rescue.
Lifeguards caution that even experienced swimmers can get caught in rip currents, especially during busy holiday weekends when more people are entering the water. Officials stress the importance of choosing a guarded beach, where lifeguards can quickly respond if someone needs help.
“If you’re stuck in a rip current and you call for help and you’re at an unguarded beach, you’re going to have a delay and help from a lifeguard or a member of the public,” Montgelas said.
Beachgoers are also urged to check beach warning flags before entering the water and to talk with lifeguards about current conditions.
“So, it is most important to visit those lifeguards on beaches so you can talk to the lifeguard about what the dangers are. And if you are in trouble, you can get quick help,” Montgelas said.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
Lifeguards advise that if someone gets caught in a rip current, they should stay calm, avoid panicking, and swim parallel to the shore rather than trying to fight the current head-on.