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Rip currents are the proximate cause of 80% of rescues carried out by beach lifeguards. [10] Rip currents typically flow at about 0.5 m/s (1.6 ft/s). They can be as fast as 2.5 m/s (8.2 ft/s), which is faster than any human can swim. Most rip currents are fairly narrow, and even the widest rip currents are not very wide.
What causes rip currents? Rip currents are caused by the interaction of waves, tides, and underwater topography. When waves break unevenly, the water flows back out to sea in concentrated channels.
A rip tide, or riptide, is a strong offshore current that is caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach, at a lagoon or inland marina where tide water flows steadily out to sea during ebb tide. It is a strong tidal flow of water within estuaries and other enclosed tidal areas. The riptides become the strongest where ...
A rip current is a horizontal current. Rip currents do not pull people under the water—they pull people away from shore. Drowning deaths occur when people pulled offshore are unable to keep themselves afloat and swim to shore. This may be due to any combination of fear, panic, exhaustion, or lack of swimming skills.
One of those dangers is rip currents. According to the National Weather Service, rip currents are the third leading cause of weather-related deaths in the U.S. since 2013 — surpassing both ...
Here are some things to know about rip currents: What is a rip current? Rip currents are narrow columns of water flowing rapidly away from the beach, like a swift stream within the ocean. They don't pull swimmers under water, but can carry them out a fair distance from shore. Low spots along the beach, or areas near jetties or piers, are often ...
Hurricane Lee is expected to cause dangerous rip currents and huge waves along the U.S. East Coast. Here’s what to know about rip current safety.
Rip currents can occur in any weather, so assume that they’re present at a surf beach and take the time to identify any of the indicators. What to do if you're caught in a rip current.