SOUTH AFRICA - BEACH GOERS WARNED OF NEW MOON SPRING TIDE

Tomorrow morning at 08h53, Thursday the 29th of December, the monthly New Moon occurs.

This means that the twice monthly Spring Tide (which occurs every month at Full Moon and at New Moon) peaks at 08h53 on Thursday 29th December.

Spring Tides happen twice every month, at full moon and at new moon, and bring higher than normal high tides, lower than normal low tides and stronger than normal rip currents around the coastline. There are two high tides and two low tides every day.

The New Moon Spring Tide is now in its full intensity peaking on the New Moon day, Thursday 29th December, and gradually lessening in intensity towards about Monday, 2nd of January.

Anyone visiting beaches today, 28th December, will notice that the twice daily high tides are higher than normal, and the twice daily low tides are lower than normal, and rip currents are at their strongest intensity.

It will be visibly noticeable to bathers that rip-currents are at their strongest intensity today, Wednesday, 28th December, tomorrow, Thursday, 29th December, Friday, 30th December and lasting up until Monday, 02nd January.

NSRI are urging bathers, paddlers and anglers to be aware of this years end of the year “New Moon Spring Tide” happening at a time when most families will be visiting the beach (coastline) and extreme caution around the coast is advised.

Go to beaches only where and when lifeguards are on duty and swim between the safe demarcated swimming zones that lifeguards post at beaches using their red and yellow flags.
Paddlers and boaters should download the free app RSA Safetrx to their cellphones – this enables paddlers and boaters to indicate they have an emergency with the push of a button while it gives sea rescue their exact location.

TO REPORT A SEA RESCUE EMERGENCY DIAL 112 FROM A CELLPHONE

VIA - nsri.org.za