PEI

Surf conditions downgraded to moderate for most of P.E.I. National Park on Saturday

The beaches with rip current advisories are Brackley, Cavendish, Cavendish Campground, Stanhope, North Rustico and Ross Lane.

Parks Canada still urges swimmers to be cautious, despite downgrading rip tide warnings moderate conditions

A sign with advice on escaping a rip current.
This sign, placed at beaches in the P.E.I. National Park, illustrates what swimmers should do if they're caught in rip currents. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Surf conditions have been downgraded from dangerous to moderate in most of in P.E.I. National Park, however Parks Canada is urging visitors to be cautious as rip currents may still be present.

The beaches with rip current advisories are Brackley, Cavendish, Cavendish Campground, Stanhope, North Rustico and Ross Lane.

Surf conditions at Greenwich beach are still considered dangerous so swimming is not recommended, Parks Canada says.

"Rip currents are a hazard on P.E.I. beaches and form when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach," Parks Canada said in a release. 

"One of the ways this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow stream of water moving swiftly away from shore. The danger is when swimmers become trapped in the rapid current and are swept offshore."

Swimmers are advised not to panic if they get caught in a rip current, but to remain calm and swim parallel to shore to get out of the current; then swim back to shore, the release said.

Conditions are calm at other beaches across the province. Although, swimmers at Cabot Beach, Cedar Dunes and Chelton should use caution when entering the water as those beaches have a caution alert.

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