Strong rip currents pose a serious danger at Crandon Park and other Key Biscayne beaches through Saturday morning, Aug. 8, according to a National Weather Service advisory issued early Thursday, Aug. 6.

The NWS Miami office designated a high rip current risk for Coastal Miami-Dade County starting at 8 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6. The agency warned that dangerous currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

The advisory also covers Coastal Broward and Coastal Palm Beach counties.

Stormy weather adds to the hazard

The rip current warning arrives during a stretch of rough weather on the island. The forecast for Thursday, Aug. 6, calls for thunderstorms likely in the morning, cloudy skies in the afternoon, a high near 85 degrees and east winds of 10 to 20 mph. Friday, Aug. 7, brings partly cloudy skies early with afternoon showers and a high around 86 degrees, according to the Islander News.

The rip current advisory is separate from the flood advisory issued Monday, Aug. 3, which addressed thunderstorms with 50 mph gusts across Miami-Dade County.

What to do if caught in a rip current

The NWS urges beachgoers to swim near a lifeguard and never fight a rip current. If caught in one, the agency advises swimmers to relax, float and swim parallel to the shoreline until free of the current. Swimmers unable to escape should face the shore and wave for help.

Rip currents do not pull people underwater. They pull swimmers away from shore.

According to NOAA, rip currents kill an estimated 100 people in the United States each year and can move faster than an Olympic swimmer.

The advisory expires Saturday morning, Aug. 8. Residents can monitor updates at weather.gov.