Governor Kathy Hochul has directed State Parks 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,” Governor Hochul said. “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.”
The restrictions are expected to be in place at Robert Moses, Hither Hills and Jones Beach State Parks as long as adverse conditions persist. All three ocean beaches experienced significant water levels today, including flooding at the Jones Beach beachfront and unpassable areas at Robert Moses and Hither Hills.
These three State Parks posted red flags on the beachfront to warn visitors that swimming is prohibited. Lifeguards remain on duty to prevent anyone from entering the water. Swimming remains available at Sunken Meadow and Wildwood State Parks on Long Island Sound, which are not experiencing dangerous impacts from the storm. The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will continue monitoring conditions across state parks
New York State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, “Even if they are far away, hurricanes and tropical storms are powerful events that cause dangerous and unpredictable conditions at our swimming beaches. We urge all park visitors to take these events seriously and follow all direction of our lifeguards and park staff.”
While the Atlantic hurricane season began in June, the threat of tropical storms impacting New York state is traditionally highest in the months of September and October. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently increased its prediction for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, shifting from a “near-normal” level of activity to an “above-normal” level of activity. As of August, NOAA forecasters predicted a total of 14-21 named storms during the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season.