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Rip current risk will be higher as Ernesto passes off shore this weekend.
WASHINGTON — Weather Impact
What: Rip Currents at DMV area beaches
When: This Weekend
Impact: Rip currents may pull people away from the shore and further out to sea. Drowning is possible.
As many are heading to the beach over the weekend, the rip current risk will be higher as Ernesto passes off shore. The storm will cause big ocean swells over the East Coast through the weekend, bringing the risk for life-threatening surf and rip currents.
What is a rip current?
A rip current is a narrow channel of water that flows back to the ocean. This narrow channel of water moves quickly, pushing water 1 to 2 feet per second. Some rip currents have speeds as high as 8 feet per second, that's faster than an Olympic swimmer.
Rip currents form when waves break near the shoreline. This causes water to pile up between the breaking waves and the beach. As the water tries to get back in balance and flow back to sea, it forms a narrow channel.
How to spot a rip current
Rip currents are sometimes hard to identify, but here are some clues to spot them:
- A narrow gap of darker, seemingly calmer water flanked by areas of breaking waves and whitewater.
- A channel of churning or choppy water that is different from surrounding water
- A difference in water color, such as an area of muddy-appearing water (which occurs from sediment and sand being carried away from the beach).
- A consistent area of foam or seaweed being carried through the surf.
What to do if caught in a rip current?
If caught in a rip current try to remain calm and swim parallel to the shore. The National Weather Service also shared the following tips:
- Remain calm to conserve energy and think clearly.
- Never fight against the current.
- Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.
- Swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline. When out of the current, swim at an angle — away from the current — towards shore.
- If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.
- If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself by waving your arm and yelling for help.
Rip currents are deadly
In 2023, rip currents were the 2nd leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, killing more people than tornadoes. The National Weather Service reported that 91 people died in rip currents. In 2024, six people died in rip currents in Florida over a span of two days.
"Rip currents are often referred to as drowning machines by lifeguards and are the leading cause of rescues for people in the surf. They are particularly dangerous for weak or non-swimmers, but a strong rip current is a hazard for even experienced swimmers," National Weather Service officials wrote on its website.
Most people drown in rip currents when they are not able to stay afloat and swim to shore. Experts said this may be due to a combination of fear, panic, exhaustion or lack of swimming skills. People can easily go under water when they become tired and there is nothing to help them float.
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