Rip Current Awareness

We just finished Hurricane Awareness Week, and now attention is being given to rip currents. The strong onshore flow of air we’ve seen during the last few days produces conditions favorable for rip currents. Staying calm is one of the keys to breaking the rip. Here is some information on what rip currents are.

-Brian-

NOUS44 KBMX 010910
PNSBMX
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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BIRMINGHAM AL
410 AM CDT SUN JUN 1 2014

...THIS IS RIP CURRENT AWARENESS WEEK...

RIP CURRENTS, SOMETIMES ERRONEOUSLY REFERRED TO AS RIP TIDES OR
UNDERTOWS, OCCUR NATURALLY AND AFFECT MOST OF THE BEACHES ALONG THE
GULF COAST. THESE CURRENTS CAN POSE A BIG THREAT TO UNSUSPECTING
BEACH GOERS. RIP CURRENTS CAN BE REFERRED TO AS THE FAIR WEATHER
KILLER BECAUSE THEY OFTEN OCCUR WHEN THE WEATHER IS NICE.

A RIP CURRENT IS A STRONG, NARROW CHANNEL OF WATER TRAVELING
OFFSHORE. THESE RIP CURRENTS CAN PULL EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER INTO
DEEPER WATER BEYOND THE SAND BAR. MOST DEATHS OCCUR WHEN PEOPLE
CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT SWIM SHOREWARD DIRECTLY AGAINST THE CURRENT,
BECOME TOTALLY EXHAUSTED AND DROWN. MOST VICTIMS ARE TOURISTS OR
PEOPLE UNFAMILIAR WITH LOCAL WATERS. SOMETIMES, WOULD BE RESCUERS
ALSO DROWN. BY UNDERSTANDING HOW A RIP CURRENT WORKS, PEOPLE CAN
ESCAPE THIS FATE.

RIP CURRENTS ARE NORMALLY ONLY ABOUT 10 TO 30 YARDS WIDE, AND THE
BEST ESCAPE IS TO WADE OR SWIM SIDEWAYS ACROSS THE CURRENT, PARALLEL
TO THE BEACH. THE RIP CURRENT WEAKENS RAPIDLY ONLY A RELATIVELY
SHORT DISTANCE SEAWARD OF THE SAND BAR.  THUS ANOTHER MEANS OF ESCAPE
FOR A STRONGER SWIMMER IS TO FLOAT WITH THE CURRENT OUT BEYOND THE
BREAKERS, THEN SWIM SHOREWARD AT AN ANGLE AWAY FROM THE CURRENT.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS HOW TO AVOID AND SURVIVE RIP CURRENTS. NEVER SWIM
ALONE. BE CAUTIOUS AT ALL TIMES, ESPECIALLY WHEN SWIMMING AT
UNGUARDED BEACHES. IF IN DOUBT, DON'T GO OUT! WHENEVER POSSIBLE,
SWIM AT A LIFEGUARD PROTECTED BEACH. IF CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT,
REMAIN CALM TO CONSERVE ENERGY AND THINK CLEARLY. DON'T FIGHT THE
CURRENT, SWIM OUT OF THE CURRENT PARALLEL TO THE BEACH. DO NOT WADE
IN THE OCEAN ABOVE YOUR KNEES IF YOU ARE A WEAK SWIMMER.

EVEN STRONG SWIMMERS MUST UNDERSTAND THAT THE OCEAN IS NOT A
SWIMMING POOL AND THERE ARE MANY HAZARDS LURKING, ESPECIALLY FOR
THOSE WHO ARE UNPREPARED. PASS ALONG RIP CURRENT SAFETY ADVICE TO
PEOPLE UNFAMILIAR WITH OCEAN DANGERS.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.RIPCURRENTS.NOAA.GOV

$$

08/MK

Category: Alabama's Weather