Rip Current Awareness Week

Rip Current Awareness Week continues today with the National Weather Service Rip Current Program.

The National Weather Service, National Sea Grant and the United States Lifesaving Association continue working together to raise awareness about the dangers of rip currents. 

Research continues to improve the ability to predict the occurrence and strength of rip currents.  The goal of this awareness and research is to reduce the number of rip current related deaths that unfortunately can happen.

The NWS in Charleston issues a surf zone forecast for all beaches in southeasts South Carolina and southeast Georgia at least twice a day.  This includes in the following beaches in South Carolina:  Cape Romain, Isle of Palms, Sullivans Island, Folly Beach, Kiawah Island, Edisto Beach, Hunting Island, Fripp Island, Hilton Head Island and Daufauskie Island.

The following beaches are included for southeast Georgia:  Tybee Island, Ossabaw Island, Wassaw Island, Saint Catherines Island and Sapelo Island.

The forecast is issued in the early morning around 4am and again in the evening by 8pm.  Each forecast will include the rip current outlook in the area beaches.  The early morning forecast is an outlook for the upcoming day, while the evening forecast is an outlook for the following day.

The Rip Current Outlook is a three-tiered qualifier system.  Low risk, Moderate risk or High risk.  This outlook is then communicated to lifeguards, emergency managers, the media and the public.

A Low risk means that winds and or wave conditions are not expected to support the development of rip currents, although they still can occur at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and also near groins, jetties and piers.

A Moderate risk means that wind and or wave conditions support stronger or more frequent rip currents.  Only experienced surf swimmers that know how to escape a rip current should enter the water.

A High risk means wind and or wave conditions support dangerous rip currents and that they are life threatening to anyone entering the water.  No one should enter the water during a high risk.

Anytime you are at the beach, you should be aware of the rip current forecast.  Always pay attention to flags and posted signs.  Only swim at beaches that have lifeguards.  If you do not swim well or do not know how to escape a rip current, then do not go in the water above your knees.

To get the latest surf zone beach forecast with the rip current information, you can listen to NOAA weather radio all hazards…or go to http://www.weather.gov/chs.