National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists in Alabama, Florida and California are advising residents in some cities to stay out of the ocean due to dangerous conditions.

NWS offices in Mobile, Alabama, and Tallahassee, Florida, issued a coastal hazard alert. message Thursday morning, and the Los Angeles office will issue one on Wednesday. The three messages warned people about dangerous ocean conditions caused by large wbirds and rip currents. In 2024, rip currents claimed the lives of 49 people between the ages of 8 and 86, according to the NWS.

The Alabama warning was issued for the coastal portions of Mobile and Baldwin counties in Alabama and the coastal portions of Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties in the Florida panhandle. The warning issued by Tallahassee was in effect for beaches in Franklin County on the Florida panhandle. The Los Angeles warning was in effect for Catalina and Santa Barbara islands.

The coastal message will remain in effect in California until Thursday afternoon, in Florida through the weekend and in Alabama until Monday night.

“Hazardous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” the mobile alert said.

NWS meteorologist David Reese said news week that the waves are caused by increased waves caused by Hurricane Rafael, a Category 2 hurricane hitting the Gulf of Mexico.

“We are seeing increased swell here in the eastern Gulf of Mexico with the circulation around Rafael going clockwise,” Reese said. “Now that Rafael is moving away from Cuba, many of the wind-generated waves and swells are moving toward the west coast of Florida.”

Rafael made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday afternoon before heading out into the Gulf.

Each alert warned people, primarily inexperienced swimmers, to stay out of the ocean until calmer conditions occurred.

“There is an increased risk of drowning in the ocean,” California’s warning said. “Rip currents can sweep swimmers and surfers out to sea. Large breaking waves can cause injuries, sweep people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats near shore.”

Breaking waves of up to 7 feet impacted the California islands. Waves of similar size were impacting Mobile beaches, with waves of up to 6 feet hitting the forecast Tallahassee region.

“Swim near a life preserver. If you get caught in a rip current, relax and float,” the mobile advisory advises. “Don’t swim against the current. If you can, swim toward the shore. If you can’t escape, look toward the shore and ask for help or wave.”

Reese advised beachgoers to pay attention to beach flags if they venture to affected coastal areas over the weekend. A single red flag means rip currents are present, while two red flags mean beaches are closed.