All city beaches across Brooklyn and Queens, along with Jacob Riis Beach, will be closed to swimming Saturday and Sunday in anticipation of dangerous rip currents caused by Tropical Storm Ernesto, city and national parks officials said.
New York City Parks Department enforcement staff, as well as lifeguards, will be posted along the coastline to enforce swimming bans, officials said.
"In consultation with our sister agency, the National Park Service (NPS) and based on conditions projected by the National Weather Service, Parks is closing beaches in Brooklyn and Queens to swimming tomorrow and Sunday,” NYC Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue said in a statement. "Lifeguards will be on duty and patrolling the beaches, and we strongly urge all New Yorkers not to risk their lives by ignoring this directive.”
The National Weather Service predicted a dangerous rip current threat with possible ocean swells of up to six feet Saturday and Sunday.
Mayor Eric Adams warned New Yorkers not to take any chances.
"Our primary focus is keeping New Yorkers safe, so as the impacts of Tropical Storm Ernesto approach New York City, we are closing our ocean-facing beaches in Queens and Brooklyn this weekend to protect New Yorkers from dangerous rip currents,” Adams in a statement Friday. "New Yorkers should know the ocean is more powerful than you are, particularly this weekend. Do not risk your life, or the lives of first responders, by swimming while our beaches are closed.”
NY1 meteorologists said Tropical Storm Ernesto would bring some showers to the city Saturday night, with more widespread rain likely on Sunday and into early next week.
Ernesto pummeled the coasts of Bermuda Friday evening and Saturday morning.