Beware of the wind: Northeast winds bring hazardous water conditions and beach erosion worries

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Rough surf driven by northeast winds is creating hazardous conditions for swimmers at Hilton Head Island, and the constant wave action is raising concerns about beach erosion.

Red flags were posted at Hilton Head beach, warning beach-goers of hazardous water conditions.

What’s causing the wind

Meteorologist Andrew Gorton said wind forms when there is a change in pressure over a distance.

“Anytime you have a change in pressure over a distance You’re gonna get wind in our case we have lower pressure Off the coast And that’s gonna bring a northeasterly wind,” Gorton said.

Along the coast, that flow can push water and wave energy toward the shore. The longer the onshore flow continues, the more it can build rough surf.

Beachgoers test the water

Morgan Weddle and Mariah Cain, visiting from south central Kentucky, said they attempted to get into the ocean.

“Yeah, we tried to get in the ocean and the waves were just not having it and we had to get right back out,” Weddle and Cain said.

Rip current risk

Rough surf can also contribute to strong rip currents. Mike Wagner, beach patrol director for Shore Beach Service, described how to spot one.

“They look like they’re calm in the middle of a bunch of waves so they might look like the calmer water But that’s just a channel of water going straight out,” Wagner said.

Impact on the sand

Repeated wave action can move sand along and away from the shoreline, contributing to beach erosion.

Hilton Head recently completed a major beach renourishment project, adding millions of cubic yards of sand to restore the shoreline. Tybee is preparing for a renourishment project of its own.

Officials stressed beach-goers should enjoy the beach from the sand or avoid going deep into the water to avoid being caught in rough surf.