If you're spending any time at a North Carolina beach today through the weekend, you'll want to continue to stay out of the water.

What You Need To Know

  • Swells from Hurricane Larry in the open Atlantic will cause a danger for rip currents at North Carolina beaches the next few days

  • Rip currents are powerful channels of water that can pull even experienced swimmers away from shore

  • 174 people have drowned in rip currents at North and South Carolina beaches since 2000, according to the National Weather Service

A father from Hickory drowned at Wrightsville Beach last weekend attempting to rescue his son caught in a strong current.

As swells from Hurricane Larry in the Atlantic have reached our coast this week, the threat for rip currents has been even higher than last  weekend.

The dangerous swimming conditions may continue through at least Saturday.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water that can pull even experienced swimmers away from shore.

According to the National Weather Service, 174 people have drowned in rip currents at North and South Carolina beaches since 2000. Around 80% of the drownings are visitors to the area.

Rip currents can occur at any time, but most drownings occur between noon and 5 p.m. when there are often more people in the water.

If caught in a rip current, you should not panic. Lifeguards recommend swimming parallel to the shore until you break free from the current. Then, swim back toward the shore at an angle.