Punta Gorda, FL Weather Warnings

Rip Current Statement issued July 19 at 4:11AM EDT until July 20 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Tampa Bay Ruskin FL * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. * WHEN...From 6 AM this morning through 8 PM Monday. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. There is a high risk of rip currents. 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, beach patrol flags and signs. If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

National Weather Service