CAPE HATTERAS, N.C. (WAVY) — If in your mind you’re gone to Carolina, the National Park Service wants to make sure beach conditions don’t hit you from behind.

“We see longshore currents — the tides and the environment that we have out here is different than other other spots on the East Coast,” said Drew Pearson, Dare County director of emergency management. “You know, the east-facing beaches today, they went from the moderate risk to high-risk based on just the wind changing a little bit. But our south facing beach down on Cape Hatteras is still at moderate.

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore is urging visitors to sign up for Dare County Emergency Management’s rip current forecast text alerts and swim at any of the seashore’s five lifeguarded beaches. Text 77295 to OBXBEACHCONDITIONS — the alerts cover both Dare and Hyde counties. It’s part of an awareness campaign called Love the Beach, Respect the Ocean.

“And when they do that, they’ll be registered to get our morning beach reports,” Pearson said. “They’ll also get information from lifeguards as beach conditions change.”

The waves can often be strong and unpredictable, which can be dangerous for unsuspecting visitors enjoying the water.

“It doesn’t matter who you are, just knowing that the risk is high,” Pearson said. “That may help people not go into the water if you’re not that strong swimmer. And it’s not just the swimming ability, it could be people that maybe may have been great swimmers when they were younger and now [are] not as good a swimmer because they’re a little bit older.”

And if you are feeling the moonshine, OBX has the drink coaster just for you. Red and white coasters are in place in local bars. The coasters contain a QR code with information on the dangers of alcohol and swimming.

“It’s not just the swimming in alcohol, swimming in heat, swimming and everything that reduces your judgment and reduces your physical capacity,” Pearson said. “People just need to be very mindful that, whatever you do, you need to be on your game, especially if it’s like today. This is a high-risk day if you’re going in the ocean.”

The seashore also mentioned five beach locations with lifeguards staffed from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those locations are:

To learn more ocean and beach safety tips visit the link here.