EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WITN) – Red flags fly throughout Emerald Isle, warning of dangerous rip currents at the beach caused by Hurricane Ernesto hundreds of miles offshore.

Surfers like Tyler Null say they look forward to conditions like this, despite the danger.

“The ground swell is pretty heavy today. That’s why they have the red flag up, but I think tomorrow should be a lot better due to the fact that it shouldn’t be as mushy, but it’s going to be a good day,” Null said.

According to Emerald Isle Fire Chief William Matthias, even though many surfers are in the water, it does not mean it is safe to swim for everyone.

“We have an increase in stronger and more aggressive rip currents, possibly pulling people out of the shoreline,” Matthias explained.

Matthias added that along with Hurricane Ernesto, the king tide conditions are even more intense due to a supermoon’s gravitational effect.

Emerald Isle Lifeguard Supervisor Rachel Nieder says the hurricane’s impacts come at a time when many of their employees are heading back to school and full-time jobs, so they have to work harder to get people’s attention regarding the risks.

“Changing the flags in the mornings, we are actively talking to people. Just because we have the same people working a lot, we want to try to talk to people first and try avoiding getting in the water if we have to,” Nieder shared.

Nieder says the lifeguards are monitoring how the waves break and how powerful rip currents get throughout the weekend, but swimmers should still proceed with caution.