Long Island ocean beaches closed to swimming as Hurricane Franklin churns up the surf, officials say

A high rip current risk and high surf advisory in southern Nassau and Suffolk counties closed swimming Wednesday at several state and Long Island beaches.

Dominic Ramunni, a meterologist at the National Weather Service in Upton, said those rough conditions will likely continue on Thursday as Long Island deals with the indirect impact of Franklin.

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Wednesday directed Jones Beach and Robert Moses State Parks, as well as Hither Hills State Park in Montauk, to suspend swimming at Long Island ocean beaches due to flooding and rough surf conditions resulting from Hurricane Franklin.   

“As peak hurricane season approaches, the safety of all New Yorkers remains my top priority,” Hochul said in a news release. “With tropical storms and hurricanes affecting our beaches on Long Island, we are taking proactive steps to protect New Yorkers, and I urge everyone to remain vigilant.”

State Parks Director George Gorman said Jones Beach had extensive flooding to the seawall and dunes for a mile and half stretch between Fields 2 and 6. The central mall and boardwalk have not flooded, he said, thanks to a 8 to 12 foot high sand wall from the West Bathhouse to the East Bathhouse. 

Gorman said officials were concerned about a Blue, or super, moon tide combined with the storm tide Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

"That combined with the storm tide makes us extremely concerned," he said. 

He said they'd already seen minor erosion at Montauk area parks. Officials will evaluate conditions Thursday morning to determine if swimming will be allowed, he said.Lifeguards remain on duty to keep people out of the water, he added.

Swimming is banned at all Hempstead town beaches, including Point Lookout, Lido Beach, Nassau County’s Nickerson Beach and Atlantic Beach, officials said. Swimming also is banned in Long Beach.

“Due to the impending hurricane down south, all beaches will be closed to swimming due to extreme surf and rip currents,” Hempstead Town spokesman Greg Blower said.

Meteorologists said Hurricane Franklin, which is circling near Bermuda, is expected to create large swells and waves between six- to eight-feet high.

Ramunni said all Atlantic facing beaches will remain at high risk for rip currents, with surf heights coming in at 5 to 7 feet high.

"Pretty dangerous stuff," he said.

As the storm begins to pull away Friday surf conditions should subside and be closer to 4 feet.

Long Island is not expected to see the direct remnants of the storm as the hurricane is expected to spin away into the North Atlantic.

A high surf advisory is in effect from 2 p.m. Wednesday through 6 p.m. Thursday and additional coastal flood advisories could be issued Thursday and Friday night through the high-tide cycle.

“Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Life-threatening rip currents are likely for all people entering the surf zone,” the Natioanl Weather Serivce said. “Anyone visiting the beaches should stay out of the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”