by Pat Peterson
Published: Thu, May 21, 2009 - 4:24 pm CST
Last Updated: Thu, May 21, 2009 - 5:33 pm CST
Red flags are already posted at public beaches in both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, warning swimmers to use extreme caution. An area of low pressure in the Gulf is kicking up four to six foot seas and producing dangerous rip currents...a potentially deadly problem for vacationers visiting Baldwin County's beaches this Memorial Day weekend."This is not a lake or a creek back home," says Melvin Shepard, with the City of Orange Beach. "There's dangerous surf, underwater currents you can't see that can pull you out to deeper water, so if you're not a strong swimmer or if you're a weak swimmer, a day like today you need to stay on the beach and stay out of the water."
"It's not like a wave pool," says Gulf Shores Deputy Fire Chief Keith Martin. "These waves are going to hit you in all directions and knock you down and pull you out and that's where people run into problems. They panic."
If surf conditions deteriorate, lifeguards could post double red flags by Saturday and close the Gulf to all swimmers.
Rough Surf on Alabama Beaches
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