Hurricane Erin Brings Rip Currents Closing Jersey Shore and Rehoboth Beaches

Officials in New Jersey and Delaware closed several popular beaches to swimmers on Monday, disrupting the peak tourist season, as Hurricane Erin brought dangerous rip currents to the East Coast.

The Category 3 storm was churning through the Atlantic, several hundred miles east of the Carolinas, on Tuesday morning. A high risk of rip currents was forecast for beaches in New Jersey and Delaware through Wednesday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Rip currents have been blamed for at least one death in New Jersey in the past week.

The closures announced on Monday affected beaches in Margate, Wildwood, Bay Head, Island Beach State Park and other popular spots along the Jersey Shore. Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey urged residents and visitors not to swim in the ocean over the next few days, citing the risk of rip currents and high waves.

At least three dozen people in the United States have drowned in the surf so far this summer. Most were caught in rip currents, according to the National Weather Service.

One swimmer died and four others were rescued from the waters off Seaside Heights, N.J., after they were caught in a rip current on Aug. 11, when lifeguards were off-duty, the authorities said.

In July, a man died after rushing into the surf in Pawleys Island, S.C., to save swimmers in a rip current, the police said.

Yan Zhuang contributed reporting.