On Wednesday, Hurricane Erin was several hundred miles off the coast of Florida and beginning to push storm surge and deadly rip currents toward the shore. Two other systems may form right behind.

The girl’s sister, Sameeha Sultana, 13, was found unresponsive about an hour later at 7th Avenue, a block north. Rescue crews and the U.S. Coast Guard pulled her out of the water, and CPR was performed. She was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

Three flags warn of surf and rip current conditions. Red means a high hazard, yellow means a moderate threat and green means low danger. There's also purple for dangerous sea life, such as jellyfish, and double red when a beach is closed for any reason.

A high surf advisory is in effect through Thursday for south-coastal areas as Hurricane Erin's powerful winds churn rough surf and rip currents.

Hurricane Erin is expected to bring life-threatening rip currents and high surf to New York and New Jersey shores for the rest of the week, and authorities are advising people to stay out of the water even when lifeguards are present.

On Monday at 3:11 p.m. an updated rip current statement was released by the Nation Service in effect until Wednesday at 8 p.m. for Cape May County.

Rip currents and rough surf cause dozens of deaths each year on the US coasts, so it’s important to check the National Weather Service’s surf-zone forecast before heading to the beach or the boat.

Hurricane Erin formed early Friday, Aug. 15, marking the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Here's what to expect in NC.