Rip currents account for over 80% of beach rescues, but what are they and how can you stay safe?
By
Zachary Rosenthal, AccuWeather staff writer
Updated Aug 12, 2025 12:34 PM EDT
Safety experts say it’s critical for people heading to the shore to learn the signs and know how to escape from a dangerous rip current.
The number one threat to beachgoers is not sharks, jellyfish, or any undersea creature. In fact, the greatest threat comes from the water itself.
Rip currents, which can unexpectedly pull beachgoers out to sea, account for nearly 80% of all lifeguard rescues, according to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA). But what exactly is a rip current, how do they form, and how can beachgoers escape their potentially deadly grasp?
Rip currents are channels of water that can pull swimmers away from shore and farther out into the ocean. More than 100 people a year are killed by rip currents, according to the USLA..
Rip currents can vary in width and strength. They can be extremely narrow, between 10 and 20 feet wide or more than 10 times that width. They can also pull people out to sea at speeds higher than 5 miles per hour, which is faster than Olympic swimmers.
"Rip currents are caused by large swells that propagate toward coastal areas," former AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said.
Powerful storms, high winds, and strong circulation stir up chaotic swells, which increase the volume of water in coastal areas.
Rip currents can occur at any time of the year, even on sunny days, where the hazards that stir up rip currents are well offshore. During hurricane season, a large storm hundreds of miles off the coast can generate rip currents across the entire Atlantic coast.
Beachgoers should pay attention to posted beach flags, which will warn of ocean hazards year-round.
A warning flag flies from a lifeguard's vehicle as he patrols the beach during a break in the rain and wind storms in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
"Every area is different," Kottlowski said, referring to natural protective barriers that mitigate rip currents in some places. Other areas may see the full force of a nearby storm.
Rip currents commonly form at low spots or breaks in sandbars and also near human-made structures like groins, jetties and piers. Rip currents are not just an ocean phenomenon, either. They can form at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.
One important way to stay protected against rip currents is to always swim with a lifeguard present. According to the USLA, the risk of death while swimming with a lifeguard present is 1 in 18 million. The odds increase dramatically if a lifeguard is not on duty.
If trapped in the grip of a powerful rip current, swimmers should stay calm and avoid swimming directly back toward shore. The force of a rip current can exhaust even the best swimmers.
If caught in a rip current, it is best to swim parallel to shore until free of its influence.
"You cannot fight that volume of water going out," Kottlowski said. "It's impossible. People who get caught panic, but it is best to stay calm and let the water calm down, and you'll be fine."
After swimming parallel to the coast for about 50 to 100 yards, a trapped swimmer should begin swimming on an angle, away from the rip current and toward the shore.
If swimming parallel to the shore does not work, the USLA recommends calmly treading water and waiting out the current until it's possible to swim safely back to shore.
With school years wrapping up across the country, many families are heading to the beaches. Annette Rowland of the American Red Cross offers helpful tips to keep your kids safe at the beach and pool.
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If it's impossible to reach the shoreline, a trapped swimmer should draw as much attention as possible to alert a lifeguard or onlooker who can get assistance.
Kottlowski also stressed the importance of being aware of potential dangers by checking for warnings and alerts and speaking with local officials before venturing into the surf.
"You should never go in by yourself," he said. "Each beach is different."
For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready.
Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
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News / AccuWeather Ready
Rip currents account for over 80% of beach rescues, but what are they and how can you stay safe?
By Zachary Rosenthal, AccuWeather staff writer
Updated Aug 12, 2025 12:34 PM EDT
Safety experts say it’s critical for people heading to the shore to learn the signs and know how to escape from a dangerous rip current.
The number one threat to beachgoers is not sharks, jellyfish, or any undersea creature. In fact, the greatest threat comes from the water itself.
Rip currents, which can unexpectedly pull beachgoers out to sea, account for nearly 80% of all lifeguard rescues, according to the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA). But what exactly is a rip current, how do they form, and how can beachgoers escape their potentially deadly grasp?
What are rip currents?
Rip currents are channels of water that can pull swimmers away from shore and farther out into the ocean. More than 100 people a year are killed by rip currents, according to the USLA..
Rip currents can vary in width and strength. They can be extremely narrow, between 10 and 20 feet wide or more than 10 times that width. They can also pull people out to sea at speeds higher than 5 miles per hour, which is faster than Olympic swimmers.
What causes rip currents?
"Rip currents are caused by large swells that propagate toward coastal areas," former AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said.
Powerful storms, high winds, and strong circulation stir up chaotic swells, which increase the volume of water in coastal areas.
Rip currents can occur at any time of the year, even on sunny days, where the hazards that stir up rip currents are well offshore. During hurricane season, a large storm hundreds of miles off the coast can generate rip currents across the entire Atlantic coast.
Beachgoers should pay attention to posted beach flags, which will warn of ocean hazards year-round.
A warning flag flies from a lifeguard's vehicle as he patrols the beach during a break in the rain and wind storms in Virginia Beach, Virginia, on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
"Every area is different," Kottlowski said, referring to natural protective barriers that mitigate rip currents in some places. Other areas may see the full force of a nearby storm.
Rip currents commonly form at low spots or breaks in sandbars and also near human-made structures like groins, jetties and piers. Rip currents are not just an ocean phenomenon, either. They can form at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.
How to stay safe from rip currents
One important way to stay protected against rip currents is to always swim with a lifeguard present. According to the USLA, the risk of death while swimming with a lifeguard present is 1 in 18 million. The odds increase dramatically if a lifeguard is not on duty.
If trapped in the grip of a powerful rip current, swimmers should stay calm and avoid swimming directly back toward shore. The force of a rip current can exhaust even the best swimmers.
If caught in a rip current, it is best to swim parallel to shore until free of its influence.
"You cannot fight that volume of water going out," Kottlowski said. "It's impossible. People who get caught panic, but it is best to stay calm and let the water calm down, and you'll be fine."
After swimming parallel to the coast for about 50 to 100 yards, a trapped swimmer should begin swimming on an angle, away from the rip current and toward the shore.
If swimming parallel to the shore does not work, the USLA recommends calmly treading water and waiting out the current until it's possible to swim safely back to shore.
With school years wrapping up across the country, many families are heading to the beaches. Annette Rowland of the American Red Cross offers helpful tips to keep your kids safe at the beach and pool.
GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
•Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts™ with Premium+
If it's impossible to reach the shoreline, a trapped swimmer should draw as much attention as possible to alert a lifeguard or onlooker who can get assistance.
Kottlowski also stressed the importance of being aware of potential dangers by checking for warnings and alerts and speaking with local officials before venturing into the surf.
"You should never go in by yourself," he said. "Each beach is different."
For more safety and preparedness tips, visit AccuWeather.com/Ready.
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Want next-level safety, ad-free? Unlock advanced, hyperlocal severe weather alerts when you subscribe to Premium+ on the AccuWeather app. AccuWeather Alerts™are prompted by our expert meteorologists who monitor and analyze dangerous weather risks 24/7 to keep you and your family safer.
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