Things to know about dangerous rip currents and how swimmers caught in one can escape

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Stinging jellyfish, rays with whip-like tails and hunting sharks are some ocean hazards that can often worry swimmers. But rip currents are the biggest danger and are responsible for the most beach rescues every year.

Six people have drowned in rip currents in the past two days in Florida, including one couple vacationing on Pennsylvania’s Hutchinson Island with their six children and three young people on vacation in the Alabama Panhandle, authorities say.

About 100 people drown in rip currents along U.S. beaches each year, according to the United States Lifesaving Association. And more than 80% of beach rescues annually involve rip currents.

O National Weather Service lists 16 known deaths so far in 2024 due to rip currents in U.S. waters, including the deaths in Florida, as well as eight deaths in Puerto Rico and two in Texas.

Here are some things you should know about rip currents:

What is a rip current?

Rip currents are narrow columns of water that flow quickly away from the beach, like a fast-moving stream within the ocean. They do not pull swimmers underwater, but can carry them a fair distance from shore.

Low spots along the beach, or areas near jetties or piers, are often where rip currents form. They can be related to thunderstorms, but they also sometimes occur during sunny days. They can be difficult to spot because surface waters often appear calm.

The current can flow as quickly as 3.2 meters per second (8 feet per second), faster than even a strong swimmer can overcome, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

“If you get caught in one and try to swim straight in, you won’t make it,” said Daniel Barnickel with Palm Beach County Ocean Rescue.

How can someone escape a riptide?

The most frequent advice from beach rescuers and meteorologists is not to panic and look for a chance to swim parallel to the shore until the swimmer is out of reach of the current. It will eventually dissipate, but may leave the swimmer in deeper water.

It is almost impossible to directly combat the current. Many swimmers who run into trouble tire themselves out trying to get back to shore, lifeguards say. If possible, it is best to swim near a lifeguard station.

“Most of our rip current rescues happen outside of protected areas because we are not there to prevent it from happening,” Barnickel said.

What warning systems are there for rip currents?

Flags with different colors are used to warn swimmers about different dangers.

Three flags warn of wave conditions and rip currents. Red means high danger, yellow means moderate threat and green means low danger. There’s also purple for dangerous marine life like jellyfish, and double red when the beach is closed for any reason.

The National Weather Service publishes current hazards on its websites around the coast and has developed a computer model that can predict when conditions are favorable for their formation up to six days in advance for the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, Harbor Rico, Hawaii and Guam.

“Before this, meteorologists manually predicted rip currents across a large part of the ocean, twice a day and just a day or two into the future. The above prediction has the potential to substantially increase awareness and reduce drownings,” said Gregory Dusek, the NOAA scientist who developed the model, in a post on the agency’s website.

High-risk warnings were posted at most Florida beaches last week when the drownings occurred.

Should anyone try a rip current rescue?

It can be dangerous to try to rescue someone stuck in a riptide, authorities say. Often the people trying to perform the rescue themselves can get into trouble.

It’s best to find a lifeguard if there is one, or call 911 if a struggling swimmer is spotted. People on the shore may also try to tell the person to swim parallel to the shore.

“Never swim alone. And always make sure there is an adult. And make sure you don’t overestimate your abilities. Know your limits,” Barnickel said.

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Associated Press video journalist Cody Jackson of Palm Beach contributed to this story.