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 ALZ011>015-017>050-020500- 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