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All About Rip Currents
March 22, 2022 at 08:06 PM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologist Dan Rupp
The temperatures are heating up and it’s time to hit the beach for a refreshing swim! Before you take a dip though, it’s important to learn and prepare for a hidden danger found in lakes and oceans known as rip currents.
What are rip currents?
Rip currents can be described as a narrow flow of water away from shore. They can be 50 to more than 300 feet wide, extend offshore 300 to 1300 feet (approximately a quarter mile), last minutes to months and move at speeds near 5 mph. A low speed of 5 mph doesn’t sound too hazardous, but it really is when you consider only Olympic swimmers are capable of moving at that pace.
What do rip currents look like?
You can spot a rip current by looking for a relatively flat part of the water in between breaking waves. If you are higher up and away from shore, it can be easier to spot rip currents by seeing sediment pushed further out into the body of water.
When do rip currents occur?
Rip currents tend to be strongest at low tide but can occur anytime waves are breaking and can be semi-permanent around man-made structures. Most times rip currents can occur during calm, sunny days with only 2 to 3 feet high waves.
How can you prepare for rip currents?
Before you head to the beach you should check the local surf forecast, know how to swim out of a rip current, and understand what the beach warning flags indicate. It would also be smart to swim in areas where a lifeguard is present.
How do you escape a rip current?
If you are caught in a rip current, it’s important to relax since rip currents do not pull you under water. Remember that rip currents flow directly away from shore, so trying to swim against the current toward the beach will only drain your energy. Be sure to swim parallel to the shoreline until you escape the pull of the current then swim at an angle toward shore. A possible indicator of escaping the current may be an area where there are breaking waves present. If you feel like you can’t reach the shore, call and wave for help.
What are rip currents?
Rip currents can be described as a narrow flow of water away from shore. They can be 50 to more than 300 feet wide, extend offshore 300 to 1300 feet (approximately a quarter mile), last minutes to months and move at speeds near 5 mph. A low speed of 5 mph doesn’t sound too hazardous, but it really is when you consider only Olympic swimmers are capable of moving at that pace.
What do rip currents look like?
You can spot a rip current by looking for a relatively flat part of the water in between breaking waves. If you are higher up and away from shore, it can be easier to spot rip currents by seeing sediment pushed further out into the body of water.
When do rip currents occur?
Rip currents tend to be strongest at low tide but can occur anytime waves are breaking and can be semi-permanent around man-made structures. Most times rip currents can occur during calm, sunny days with only 2 to 3 feet high waves.
How can you prepare for rip currents?
Before you head to the beach you should check the local surf forecast, know how to swim out of a rip current, and understand what the beach warning flags indicate. It would also be smart to swim in areas where a lifeguard is present.
How do you escape a rip current?
If you are caught in a rip current, it’s important to relax since rip currents do not pull you under water. Remember that rip currents flow directly away from shore, so trying to swim against the current toward the beach will only drain your energy. Be sure to swim parallel to the shoreline until you escape the pull of the current then swim at an angle toward shore. A possible indicator of escaping the current may be an area where there are breaking waves present. If you feel like you can’t reach the shore, call and wave for help.