As Hurricane Milton moves away from the US and into the Atlantic, nearly 10 million people along the Atlantic coast are still facing hazardous coastal conditions today and early Friday. Coastal areas of Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina are under high surf and rip current alerts.
The National Weather Service has issued warnings due to dangerous rip currents and large breaking waves. In Northeast Florida, waves could reach heights of up to 17 feet, while southeastern Florida may experience waves up to 10 feet. Georgia could see waves up to 12 feet, and North and South Carolina may experience waves up to 7 feet.
The main impacts of these conditions include dangerous swimming and surfing conditions, as well as localized beach erosion. The National Weather Service office in Charleston, South Carolina, emphasized the threat of rip currents, stating that they can sweep even the most experienced swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
Although conditions are expected to gradually improve on Friday as Hurricane Milton moves further into the Atlantic, high surf and dangerous rip currents will persist due to lingering swells from the storm.
Residents and visitors in the affected areas are urged to exercise caution and follow guidance from local authorities to ensure their safety during this period of heightened coastal risk.
