Weather service warns of rip currents

Forecasters at the National Weather Service are reporting an increased risk of rip currents at Atlantic Ocean beaches Saturday and have issued an advisory for small boats on Long Island Sound through Sunday afternoon.

The high rip current risk remains in effect through Saturday evening. Rip currents are powerful channels of water that flow quickly away from the shore.

"The wind will create a rougher sea condition," said David Stark, meteorologist with the weather service in Upton.

A cold front moving into the region from the west should make for increasing clouds Saturday afternoon and bring showers and high winds overnight.

The small craft advisory, which the weather service often puts out, is in effect from 6 p.m. Saturday through noon Sunday.

Inexperienced boaters with small vessels should avoid waters of New York Harbor, the Long Island Sound and the bays of Long Island, according to the advisory.

A small craft advisory means wind speed or frequent gusts of wind are expected to be 25 to 33 knots, or that the seas will reach five feet or higher.

"It's really just tonight that we'll see some unsettled weather," Stark said.

By sunrise Sunday, the rain should taper off; and sunny, dry and tranquil weather with temperatures in the low to mid-70s is expected through most of next week.