With stormy weather in Friday's forecast, the rain may keep our beaches less crowded than usual. However, if you're venturing out to the beach during breaks in the rain, you should know that dangerous swimming conditions are back along much of our coast.

What You Need To Know

  • There's a moderate to high risk for rip currents along the North Carolina coast Friday

  • Rip currents can occur anytime but are most common within a couple hours of low tide

  • Dangerous swimming conditions could continue into the weekend

Earlier this week, lifeguards just at Wrightsville Beach and Carolina Beach reported at least a dozen rip current rescues.

The threat for rip currents is back to the moderate to high category for many North Carolina beaches on this Friday before the Independence Day weekend.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water than can pull even experienced swimmers out to sea. 

The dangerous swimming conditions can occur at anytime but often form more frequently within a couple hours of low tide.

The threat could continue through the weekend. Check in with lifeguards or with our Weather on the 1s forecast for the latest rip current forecast for venturing out into the water.

If you're 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.