# HEADLINE
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HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING
# DETAILS
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WHAT
Dangerous rip currents.
WHERE
Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties.
WHEN
Through Thursday evening.
IMPACTS
Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
ISSUED AT
Wednesday, July 22, 2026 at 2:50 PM EDT
ISSUED BY
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
HEADER
Coastal Hazard Message
# PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
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Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and signs.
If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.
# AREAS AFFECTED
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Coastal Charlotte, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Lee, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota, Pinellas