What are Rip Currents?

A Rip Current is a strong, powerful, and narrow channel of water moving perpendicular to the beach away from shore much like a river running out to the sea. They are formed from the energy of the breaking waves as they flow back into the ocean through slightly deeper areas on the ocean’s floor, breaks in between sandbars, and even around structures.  Rips can form and dissolve based on the tide and wave action, though there are areas where a geographical rip can form that never dissipates.   They are most powerful at the surface and nearest to the shore, so contrary to popular belief they do not pull you under and staying close to the shore actually puts you at a greater risk.  Rip currents can be found on most beaches EVERY day.  Under normal conditions and tides, they are weaker and not as menacing.  Less powerful rips still may pull a child out to sea, which makes educating our children so very important.  When the wave action is greater, a single, strong rip may form.

Rip currents can occur in any large body of water where there are breaking waves.  There is a misconception that rip currents only form on the beach shore of the oceans, but they are found in the great lakes and other bays, sounds, etc.

Rip currents typically travel around 1-2 feet per second though they can travel up to 8 feet per second which is faster than an Olympic swimmer. Trying to swim against them back to shore is not possible.   Rip currents are fairly narrow usually around 10-20 feet wide but can get as large as 100 feet wide.  Since they are formed from the waves energy,  they typically weaken right past the point the waves begin to break, although they can remain intact up to 100 yards from shore.  Rip currents can be powerful, fast, and scary.  They pull people away from the beach which causes them to panic and finally drown from the exhaustion of trying to swim to shore.  26% of rip current deaths are rescuers who enter the water to save someone, exhaust themselves getting the person out of the rip and then do not have the energy to get themselves back to shore.

Rip currents can be very difficult to see, sometimes only visible from a higher perspectives such as a balcony or deck .  Look for places were the waves appear not to be breaking or are breaking less.  Sometimes if the rip is strong you may be able to see visible signs of the water flowing back to the ocean such as foam or ripples.  Since they travel through deeper areas of the oceans bottom, look for darker colored water or changes in the water color.  If there are objects floating in the water watch to see which way they are traveling.  Rip currents will pull those objects back out to sea.

Since rip current formation can be related to the tide and wave conditions, they can constantly change.  Be cautious of complacency due to frequency of time spent on a particular beach.  Reece and I had been going to this particular beach for years and knew it well.  This was our first time entering the water this vacation trip and the first time entering the water since Hurricane Michael had hit the Panama City Beach area.  We did not know how much the ocean’s floor had been changed and that a deep, strong rip current had developed feet from where we walked out.  Also be aware that Rip currents are fairly narrow.  You can literally be standing close to someone who is stuck in a rip and not be able to detect it yourself.  In my experience, towards the end, I was so exhausted from my struggle that I could not stand to get out of the water.  I was yelling for help in a about 2- 3 feet of water but did not have the energy to get out and was about to drown.  I am sure the lady who helped me was puzzled to why I was in such distress.

Since it can be so difficult to see a Rip Current, it is always best to swim at a beach guarded by a life guard.  Per the United States Lifesaving Association the chance of drowning at a beach protected by a USLA lifeguard is 1 in 18 million!  Rip Current rescues account for over 80% of all lifeguard rescues in the US.