Beach Bound? Swimmers Safety!!
By Kevin Arnone on April 17, 2012, 7:54am
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With the beautiful weekend we just had, record breaking temperatures inland on Monday and another week with a great forecast the beach is becoming a popular spot. Also there are many schools on vacation this week which just might make beach traffic a little more crowded then normal. Beach safety is always a concern throughout the year and especially this time of the year when water temperatures are cold. Keep in mind, even though air temperatures are forecast to be in the 60’s and 70’s throughout the week, water temperatures are chilly upper 40's and lower 50’s. Water takes much longer to heat/cool then land surface areas.
According to a hypothermia criteria chart I found online, water temperatures between 40-50 F it only takes 30 to 60 minutes to suffer from exhaustion or unconsciousness. The expected time for survival is just 1-3 hours if one is exposed in these water conditions. When the water is between 50-60 F exhaustion and unconsciousness may set in just 1-2 hours after being in the water however survival time is increased to 1-6 hours.
According to NWS, water temperatures along the Connecticut coastline are 49-53 F. So just keep in mind, if you are planning on going to the beach on your week off, swimming in the ocean may be very exciting, but can turn dangerous quickly. Be safe!!!
- Meteorologist Intern Kevin Arnone
If you're ready to head to the beach with fido, check out CT's dog-friendly beaches
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