The dangerous swimming conditions are expected to continue on Wednesday.
A high risk of rip currents continues north of Hatteras on Wednesday.
Rip currents are powerful channels of water than can pull even experienced swimmers away from shore.
Over the last decade, you might be surprised to learn that rip currents and other beach hazards have been more deadly than floods, lightning and tornadoes combined.
When the sun is shining and the winds and waters are gentle, one risk you may not think of is the danger caused by rip currents.
The danger of rip currents not only occurs when a storm is near the coast. A storm can be hundreds of miles offshore and still produce surf hazards, like large swells and rip currents.
The best way to survive a rip current is to either let it carry you out to sea and swim at an angle to the shore, or to swim parallel to the shore while in the rip current to get back to the sand.
Remember to never swim alone and do not float in water that you cannot swim in.
Also, swim at a beach with a lifeguard nearby if possible. The United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) has calculated that the chance for a drowning at a beach protected by USLA lifeguards to be at 1 in 18 million (0.0000055%).
That means you’re 27 times mores likely to win an Olympic medal than to drown at a beach with a lifeguard.
A reminder that if you’re heading to the beach soon, always check the rip current forecast before you hit the water. You can also make sure the currents are adequate for swimming by checking the color of the flags on the beach.
Never swim at a beach with a red flag!
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