Back to forecast
At The Beach: Protecting Yourself From Rip Currents!
July 11, 2023 at 01:31 PM EDT
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Alyssa Robinette
With there being already 60 confirmed fatalities so far, 2023 will likely see a record number of fatalities from rip currents this year. On average, rip currents typically cause around 100 deaths per year.
If you are heading to the beach this summer, there are certain actions you should take at the beach to protect you, your family and others.
Know what rip currents are. A rip current is like a shallow river or channel of water on the surface of the ocean. They are formed when waves breaking in the surf zone push large amounts of water ashore. The surf zone is the area between breaking waves and the beach. They are strong and can pull you away from the shore even if you are a good swimmer. Rip currents can vary in size from 50 to 300 feet wide. They typically flow around 1 mph but can be known to flow as fast as 5 mph or more! Rip currents tend to be the strongest at low tide. People often misunderstand and think that rip currents only occur during bad-weather days at the beach but actually, you can have strong rip currents with sunny days and waves of only about two to three feet high.
Know what to do if caught in the rip current. If you are caught in a rip current, trying to swim straight to the beach is just too difficult. The best escape is to turn sideways to the shore, and wade or swim until you are out of the current. Then move back toward shore at an angle away from the rush of water. In a chaotic situation, it can often be difficult to tell which way to swim. An alternate way of thinking about it would be to “swim towards the breaking waves.”
Talk with the lifeguard. When you arrive at the beach, you may be ready to jump right into the water! But do you know if the water is safe? Talking to the lifeguard or beach patrol before you get in the water will help prepare you for any dangers. They are trained to detect dangerous currents and waves, and know other water conditions, such as the water temperature. If there are no lifeguards on duty, check for warning flags or signs. Avoid going into water above your knees if winds are strong or the surf is rough.
Know where the life ring or flotation device stations are located. Knowing where these are can help you quickly retrieve and use them if necessary. Use life rings or other flotation devices to throw to a victim to pull them back to shore, or to keep the person afloat until rescue comes. If no station is nearby, you can throw an ice chest or anything else that floats to the swimmer caught in the current. If a rope is available from a nearby boat or other source, you can throw the victim a line to them to pull them in.
Always swim with one or more buddies and make sure at least one of you has a cell phone. Many drownings involve single swimmers. When you swim with a buddy, if one of you has a problem, the other may be able to help, including signaling for assistance from others. At least have someone onshore watching you so if an emergency does happen, they can call for help.
Use caution. The flat water located between breaking waves, which appear to be safe water, is actually the rip current. It is a river flowing away from the beach out to the ocean stopping just beyond the breaking waves with the surf zone. Rip current break down waves.
Being prepared for rip currents will help increase the chances of survival for you or someone else. Make sure you take these simple steps the next time you head to the beach!
Source: NWS, NOAA
------
Image: Arial view of coastal rip current. (Elena Arrigo via Shutterstock)
If you are heading to the beach this summer, there are certain actions you should take at the beach to protect you, your family and others.
Know what rip currents are. A rip current is like a shallow river or channel of water on the surface of the ocean. They are formed when waves breaking in the surf zone push large amounts of water ashore. The surf zone is the area between breaking waves and the beach. They are strong and can pull you away from the shore even if you are a good swimmer. Rip currents can vary in size from 50 to 300 feet wide. They typically flow around 1 mph but can be known to flow as fast as 5 mph or more! Rip currents tend to be the strongest at low tide. People often misunderstand and think that rip currents only occur during bad-weather days at the beach but actually, you can have strong rip currents with sunny days and waves of only about two to three feet high.
Know what to do if caught in the rip current. If you are caught in a rip current, trying to swim straight to the beach is just too difficult. The best escape is to turn sideways to the shore, and wade or swim until you are out of the current. Then move back toward shore at an angle away from the rush of water. In a chaotic situation, it can often be difficult to tell which way to swim. An alternate way of thinking about it would be to “swim towards the breaking waves.”
Talk with the lifeguard. When you arrive at the beach, you may be ready to jump right into the water! But do you know if the water is safe? Talking to the lifeguard or beach patrol before you get in the water will help prepare you for any dangers. They are trained to detect dangerous currents and waves, and know other water conditions, such as the water temperature. If there are no lifeguards on duty, check for warning flags or signs. Avoid going into water above your knees if winds are strong or the surf is rough.
Know where the life ring or flotation device stations are located. Knowing where these are can help you quickly retrieve and use them if necessary. Use life rings or other flotation devices to throw to a victim to pull them back to shore, or to keep the person afloat until rescue comes. If no station is nearby, you can throw an ice chest or anything else that floats to the swimmer caught in the current. If a rope is available from a nearby boat or other source, you can throw the victim a line to them to pull them in.
Always swim with one or more buddies and make sure at least one of you has a cell phone. Many drownings involve single swimmers. When you swim with a buddy, if one of you has a problem, the other may be able to help, including signaling for assistance from others. At least have someone onshore watching you so if an emergency does happen, they can call for help.
Use caution. The flat water located between breaking waves, which appear to be safe water, is actually the rip current. It is a river flowing away from the beach out to the ocean stopping just beyond the breaking waves with the surf zone. Rip current break down waves.
Being prepared for rip currents will help increase the chances of survival for you or someone else. Make sure you take these simple steps the next time you head to the beach!
Source: NWS, NOAA
------
Image: Arial view of coastal rip current. (Elena Arrigo via Shutterstock)