The Duluth Fire Department has hoisted the red flags—literally—not for some political upheaval but to warn you, dear swimmers, to shy away from Park Point's seductive but treacherous waves. As if mother nature is on a riptide-producing spree, the Department warns of "life-threatening" conditions to anyone daring enough to enter the waves, no matter how adept at swimming they might be. The warning, effective immediately and enforced until 10:00 am tomorrow, doesn't hinge on theatrics, it's a straightforward, 'please don't take your chances.'
According to the Duluth Fire Department's advisory, the serene appearance of the waters shouldn't seduce you into a false sense of security, yes calm waters can hide the lurking danger of rip currents, especially after a storm has passed through, so don't be fooled—riptide risks don't subside with the storm clouds. Duluth folks ought to take heed and postpone their aquatic escapades until the red flags scattered across the beach, including at spots South Pier (South of Lift Bridge), 12th Street Beach, Lafayette Park, and the double trouble at Park Point Beach, are packed away and the all-clear is sounded. Tick the webpage parkpointbeach.org for continuous updates
In what's likely a no-brainer for locals but bears repeating, 'stay out of the water regardless of your swimming experience,' as the official warning puts it. With summer's end nipping at our heels, the temptation to wring out every last ounce of beach time is strong, but the firefighters' warning is stronger, and they're not just shouting into the void but marking the danger zones with flags, barely any effort needed to spot them unless you're determined to swim with your eyes closed.
For updates on when it's safe to take the dip again, keep tabs on the Park Point Beach website and wait for officials to signal the green light, because as of now, red means stop, and truly, it doesn't get any simpler than that.
