Rip Currents

Weather Safety - Rip Currents

Learn how to swim.
If possible, always swim at beaches guarded by the Beach Patrol and heed their advice.
Do not overestimate your swimming ability and take chances.
Do not get caught in a rip current while trying to save someone else. Throw them a flotation device and get help from the Beach Patrol.
If caught in a rip current, do not panic! Wave for help in the direction of the Beach Patrol.
Try to escape a rip current by swimming sideways across the current (parallel to the shore). As an alternative, let the rip current carry you 50 to 100 yards from the shore (to break free from the current), then swim back to shore at an angle away from the rip current.


View from the beach of a rip current breaker zone Notice the rip current channel (between the arrows). It can be identified by the lower height of the breaking waves and the band of foam.	Aerial view of a rip current The two main parts of a rip current are identifiable by the brown sediment plume. The "neck" of the rip current (point A) is where the current is narrowest and fastest, while the "head" (point B) is where the current broadens and slows.

Another aerial view of rip currents Two rip current channels are visible in the surf zone.	Aerial view of rip current channels Several channels (darker areas) cut into the sea bottom by rip currents are visible along the shoreline.