Things to know about dangerous rip currents and how swimmers caught in one can escape

Published On: August 20, 2025

By Patrick Whittle, Curt Anderson, and Leigh Willingham, Associated Press

Boston (AP) The most frequent cause of beach rescues each year is rip currents, which are among the coast’s biggest threats.This week, Hurricane Erin is bringing possibly fatal currents to the East Coast.

The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that every year, rip currents on American beaches cause the deaths of about 100 persons. Additionally, rip currents are a factor in almost 80% of beach rescues each year.

The National Weather Service reports that rip currents have killed at least 27 people in U.S. seas so far this year.

The day after dozens of swimmers had to be rescued from rip currents near Wilmington, North Carolina, Hurricane Erin forced evacuations to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on Tuesday. Authorities cautioned that rip currents from Florida might reach New England as a result of the storm.

Here are some things to know about rip currents:

Like a speedy stream in the ocean, rip currents are slender columns of water that move quickly away from the beach. They can take swimmers quite a distance from the coast, but they don’t drag them under.

Rip currents frequently arise at low spots along the beach, especially close to jetties or piers. They occasionally happen on sunny days, but they can also be linked to severe weather. Since the surface water frequently seems tranquil, they might be challenging to spot.

The current can flow as swiftly as eight feet per second (3.2 meters per second), faster than even a strong swimmer can overcome, according to theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

You won’t be able to swim straight in if you’re trapped in one, according to Daniel Barnickel of Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue.

As Erin moves north, coastal residents in New England may anticipate higher wave heights, choppy surf, and more rip currents, according to meteorologist Bryce Williams of Norton, Massachusetts.

Over the next day, wave action in New England will begin to increase. The most of the effect is anticipated to occur on Thursday, but rising waves will become more apparent on Wednesday.

Nantucket is closest to Erin s path and is likely to see the strongest winds, gusting about 25 to 35 miles per hour at peak with waves potentially reaching a height of 10-13 feet. Waves typically reach a height of one to three feet on a calm day.

Wave heights of 13 to 16 feet and wind gusts of up to 45 miles per hour are possible in seas further out into the ocean.

“We’re just asking people, particularly along the beaches that face south, to be aware that they should stay out if the water is too dangerous and rough,” Williams said. People may be pulled out before they even realize it because of the strong rip currents caused by the big waves and the choppy surf.

The most common advice given by weather forecasters and beach rescue teams is to remain calm and seek out opportunities to swim parallel to the shore until the swimmer is free of the rip current’s hold. The swimmer may be left out in deeper water, but it will soon subside.

Directly opposing the current is practically impossible. According to lifeguards, many swimmers who get into problems exhaust themselves attempting to return to the beach. Swimming close to a lifeguard station is ideal if at all possible.

distinct colored flags are used to alert beachgoers to distinct dangers.

Three flags warn of surf and rip current conditions. Green denotes little danger, yellow a moderate threat, and red a significant hazard. Additionally, there is double red when a beach is closed for any reason and purple for harmful marine creatures, such jellyfish.

For the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and Guam, the National Weather Service has created a computer model that can forecast when conditions could result in the creation of rip currents up to six days ahead of time. The agency also broadcasts rip current hazards on its websites across the coasts.

Officials warn that attempting to save someone ensnared in a rip current can be risky. Those attempting to undertake the rescue frequently end up in difficulty themselves.

If you see a swimmer struggling, it’s better to phone 911 or locate a lifeguard, if one is there. People on shore can also try to tell the person to swim parallel to shore.

Never go swimming by yourself. Additionally, make sure an adult is present at all times. And make sure that you don t overestimate your abilities. “Be aware of your boundaries,” Barnickel advised.

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Whittle reported from Portland, Maine, while Anderson reported from St. Petersburg, Florida. Cody Jackson, a Palm Beach-based Associated Press video journalist, contributed to this story.