Three flags warn of surf and rip current conditions. Red means a high hazard, yellow means a moderate threat and green means low danger. There’s also purple for dangerous sea life, such as jellyfish, and double red when a beach is closed for any reason.

Rip currents off the coast of New Hampshire last week resulted in dozens of rescues on Hampton Beach. Lifeguards at the popular summer destination made 144 rescues over six days, the New Hampshire State Beach Patrol said. There were 51 rescues on Aug. 12 alone.

Hurricane Erin is expected to bring life-threatening rip currents and high surf to New York and New Jersey shores for the rest of the week, and authorities are advising people to stay out of the water even when lifeguards are present.

On Monday at 3:11 p.m. an updated rip current statement was released by the Nation Service in effect until Wednesday at 8 p.m. for Cape May County.

Heavy rain and lightning cannot be ruled out in a stronger storm this afternoon, even with storm chances at 20%. RIP CURRENT RISK With Hurricane Erin passing to our east this week, expect a dangerous rip current threat to develop and continue through the ...

Hurricane Erin is churning slowly toward the eastern U.S. coast and stirring up waves that already have forced residents of North Carolina's Outer Banks to evacuate.