Beachgoers warned to use caution as weather turns warmer

<p>Temperatures around New Jersey reached the low-90s this week with sunny skies, prompting many state residents to spend some time at the Jersey Shore.</p>

News 12 Staff

May 3, 2018, 8:15 PM

Updated 2,330 days ago

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Temperatures around New Jersey reached the low-90s this week with sunny skies, prompting many state residents to spend some time at the Jersey Shore.
But lifeguards in most shore towns will not be on duty until Memorial Day weekend, which means that the ocean will be unguarded for several weeks. Beach officials say that beachgoers should stay out of the water until lifeguards are on duty.
Asbury Park beach safety supervisor Joseph Bongiovanni says that the water is also too cold for people to safely swim. Ocean temperatures are currently around 50 degrees.
“When you get cold like that it becomes very difficult to catch your breath. You start to lose your breath very quickly,” he says. “It is very, very dangerous if you’re going to go into the water right now.”
At least 15 people drowned last summer at the Jersey Shore due to strong rip currents. In those incidents, lifeguards were not present.