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A rip current (or just rip) is a specific type of water current that can occur near beaches where waves break. A rip is a strong, localized, and narrow current of water that moves directly away from the shore by cutting through the lines of breaking waves, like a river flowing out to sea.
Rip currents: These are narrow channels of fast-moving water that flow away from shore. Undertow: This is the general return flow of water towards the ocean floor after a wave breaks. It can feel ...
Rip currents can flow quickly, are unpredictable, and come about from what happens to waves as they interact with the shape of the sea bed. In contrast, a rip tide is caused by tidal movements, as opposed to wave action, and is a predictable rise and fall of the water level. [3] The United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ...
In the United States, rip currents claim about 100 lives annually.
Rip currents have been measured at speeds of more than 5 miles per hour, which is faster than an Olympic swimmer. They can quickly sweep away even the strongest of swimmers.
A rip current statement is a warning statement issued by the National Weather Service of the United States when there is a high threat of rip currents due to weather and ocean conditions. [ 1 ] The statement usually contains some detail about when and roughly where the rip currents are most likely to be forming.
Rip currents can move anywhere from 1 to 2 feet per second up to even 8 feet per second, making it a very common danger for even the strongest of swimmers. Given the speed the current can move ...
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 ...