EMERALD ISLE, N.C. -- Conditions along the Carolina coast remain rough as Chris churns about 200 miles off the coast.

• Tropical Storm Chris could become a hurricane.
• The storm is bringing rough conditions and rip currents.
• Always swim near a lifeguard and stay alert.

Although the storm is several hundred miles off of our coast, it's still creating dangerous surf conditions up and down the entire North Carolina coastline.

The National Weather Service issued a high rip current risk for North Topsail all the way up to Duck.

Officials say if you are heading to the beach today, be sure to take precautions.

"Don't go in past your ankles. Swim near a lifeguard. Ask a lifeguard on our beach strand and some of the things we seen this morning are some plunging waves which alone in themselves can be dangerous just with the power that they do pack,” said Capt. William Matthias with Emerald Isle Fire and Rescue. “Those plunging waves can take people down."

Lifeguards are flying yellow flags at last report but they say that could change to red at any point.

If you do get caught in a rip current, remain calm, allow it to take you out and then swim parallel to the shore.