Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany seashores ban swimming

As Hurricane Erin will get nearer, Delaware seashores are closing to swimmers for the second day in a row.

Due to tear currents and tough surf, ocean entry was closed in Rehoboth, Dewey and Bethany seashores Aug. 19. The seaside stays open in all three cities.

Rehoboth Beach lifeguards are ready to maintain the seaside closed to swimmers by way of Aug. 22 however will assess circumstances every day, Rehoboth spokesperson Erin Corcoran mentioned. In Bethany Beach, there’s a risk of full seaside closures later within the week, Bethany Beach Patrol Captain Joe Donnelly mentioned.

“The ocean conditions are extreme right now with dangerously high surf and large rip currents. An added danger in the coming days could be debris in the water depending on the impact of the storm as it passes by,” Donnelly mentioned.

At Delaware State Parks, all of the guarded seashores are closed to swimmers, spokesperson Beth Kuhles-Heiney mentioned. That contains:

• Tower and South Inlet seashores in Delaware Seashore State Park
• Deauville Beach
• Fenwick Island State Park seaside
• Cape Henlopen State Park predominant seaside

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All state park drive-on crossovers are closed, however the seashores stay open to walkers.

Despite the closures, a number of folks had been seen within the water in Rehoboth and Dewey the afternoon of Aug. 18. In Rehoboth Beach, a police officer corralled two boys out of the surf.

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“These current riptides are extreme. No swimmer even with fins can fight that current. The very experienced swimmer will have to swim out of the rip and try to make it back to shore,” Rehoboth Beach Patrol Capt. Jeff Giles mentioned. “Please, don’t put the lifeguards in this position, you are putting the lives of the rescuers at risk.  Lifeguards saving lifeguards is a terrible and preventable situation!”

Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 2 hurricane Aug. 19, however stays an enormous and highly effective storm. It is not anticipated to make landfall, however go a whole lot of miles off the coast. The storm’s results will nonetheless be felt up and down the Atlantic coast, with Delaware more likely to begin experiencing tropical storm-force winds by Aug. 20.

Shannon Marvel McNaught experiences on southern Delaware and past. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Facebook.