CFWTAE

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TALLAHASSEE FL
408 AM EST FRI JAN 7 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EST /8 AM CST/ THIS
MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING ALONG THE BEACHES OF THE
GULF...BAY..AND WALTON COUNTIES...

.WINDS WILL COME AROUND TO THE WEST AND INCREASE THROUGH TODAY
AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THE DEVELOPING WESTERLY
SWELL WILL RESULT IN SURF BUILDING TO BETWEEN 3 AND 4 FEET
DURING THE AFTERNOON. A FEW HIGHER SETS UP TO 5 FEET ARE
POSSIBLE FOR BEACHES FAVORING WESTERLY SWELL. THE SURF COMBINED
WITH MODERATE TO STRONG ONSHORE FLOW WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE
A THREAT FOR DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS.

FLZ108-112-114-081200-
/O.NEW.KTAE.RP.S.0001.110107T1400Z-110108T1200Z/
SOUTH WALTON-COASTAL BAY-COASTAL GULF-
408 AM EST FRI JAN 7 2011 /308 AM CST FRI JAN 7 2011/

...RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 9 AM EST /8 AM CST/ THIS
MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

* SURF AND RIP CURRENTS: SEAS WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE WEST AND
  INCREASE THE THREAT FOR STRONG RIP CURRENTS AND MODERATE
  BREAKING WAVES ALONG THE BEACHES FACING WEST AND SOUTHWEST. 2 TO
  4 FOOT SURF THIS MORNING WILL BUILD TO 3 TO 4 FEET WITH A FEW
  HIGH SETS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* TIMING: SURF AND RIP CURRENT RISK WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY.
  THE HIGH THREAT WILL LINGER THROUGH TONIGHT BEFORE DIMINISHING
  ON SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE
BEACHES. 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.

$$