, °F

Radar & Maps

News & Video

Extreme Weather

Social

Personalized Forecasts

A.M. Planner

Home & Garden

Sports & Recreation

Health

Miscellaneous

Featured Forecast

My Favorite Forecasts

    New York, NY

    Local Weather

    My Recent Locations

    How to avoid the potentially deadly grip of a rip current

    By Michael Kuhne, AccuWeather staff writer

    Share this article:

    With millions of beachgoers flocking to U.S. shorelines every year, the greatest danger most will face is not lurking beneath the waves, but the water itself.

    Rip currents, fast-moving, narrow flows of water that push away from the shoreline, claim more than 100 lives in the U.S. annually and account for nearly 80 percent of all lifeguard rescues, according to the United States Lifesaving Association.

    "Rip currents are caused by large swells that propagate toward coastal areas," AccuWeather senior meteorologist Dan Kottlowski said.

    They can occur at any time of year, and swimmers should be aware of the dangers.

    650x366_05271438_590x392_05271256_400x266_07191812_rip-current-florida

    Rip current in Florida after Hurricane Jeanne. (National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida, photo/Dennis Decker, WCM)


    Chaotic swells are stirred by powerful storms, high winds and strong circulation, which increase the volume of water in coastal areas, Kottlowski added.

    "Every area is different," he said, referring to natural protecting barriers that mitigate rip currents in some places. Other areas may see the full force of a nearby storm.

    Swimmers should, however, remain cautious at all times because rip currents can also form on calm, sunny days.

    While powerful rip currents are often triggered by storms and high winds, additional topographical influences such as holes, rocks and piers also generate rip currents. They can occur in any large body of water, including the Great Lakes.

    RELATED:
    Top 5 US cities most vulnerable to hurricanes
    5 tips to help avoid a shark attack
    What is red tide?

    The first method of protection against rip currents is to always swim with a lifeguard present, NOAA said. According to the United States Lifesaving Association the risk of death while swimming with a lifeguard present is 1 in 18 million.

    If trapped in the grip of a powerful rip current, it is imperative to not give in to panic, Kottlowski said.

    Rip currents -- how they form


    Kottlowski said sheer volume and speed of a rip current will 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 you swim parallel to the coast for about 50 to 100 yards, begin swimming on an angle, away from the rip current and toward the shore.

    If swimming parallel does not work, The United States Lifesaving Association recommends calmly treading water and waiting out the current until it's possible to swim safely back to shore.

    If it's impossible to reach the shoreline, the USLA recommends drawing 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 NOAA forecasts for any warnings and alerts as well as 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.

    AccuWeather ready logo

    Report a Typo

    Weather News
    >

    Comments

    Comments that don't add to the conversation may be automatically or manually removed by Facebook or AccuWeather. Profanity, personal attacks, and spam will not be tolerated.

    More Weather News

    More Weather News

    TRENDING NOW

    blue tarps Puerto Rico

    The 'sin techos': The harsh reality of living without safe housing in Puerto Rico 1 year after Maria

    The administrative disparity between the way in which FEMA traditionally assesses cases in the United States and the economic and legal reality under which the territory of Puerto Rico operates, has left thousands of American citizens in the island sin techo (without a roof).

    Read Story
    Tropical weather florence flooding

    'This feels like a nightmare that just won’t end': Anxious evacuees can't return home as dangerous flooding persists in Florence's aftermath

    Nearly a week after Florence’s initial landfall in the Carolinas, the worst of the flooding is still unfolding as rivers that have hit major flood stage still have not crested.

    Read Story
    More Trending Now
    >