Premium Only Content

Rip Current Science
Rip Current Science.
You might have heard them referred to as “undertow” or “rip tides,” but these ocean phenomena are actually rip currents.
Rip currents are narrow currents in the surf zone that move quickly away from shore.
A typical rip current ranges from 50-100 feet wide, and can extend 100 yards or more offshore. It can reach speeds of over 5 miles per hour - that’s faster than an Olympic swimmer!
That makes them dangerous and potentially deadly, and scientists want to learn more about them so we can better forecast when and where they will form - and keep beachgoers safe.
Here’s what we know:
Waves don’t have to be huge for a rip current to form - two or three feet are all it takes.
And the weather doesn’t have to be bad for a rip current to emerge. They often occur in the nice days after a storm.
They’re usually strongest near low tide, but can form at any time.
Rip currents often form where sand bars are near the shore. They occur at breaks or channels in the bar.
They’re often difficult to see, but you can spot them in areas where waves aren’t breaking, or where there’s foam, seaweed, or discolored water being pulled offshore.
It’s easier to see a rip current from higher up - such as from the beach access over dunes or a lifeguard’s tower.
Rip currents are a hazard for beachgoers, but by knowing the dangers and what to look for, you can avoid being caught in the grip of the rip.
-
DVR
Stephen Gardner
1 hour ago🔥BOOM! Trump's NEW EO just changed EVERYTHING!!
611 -
LIVE
Dr Disrespect
5 hours ago🔴LIVE - DR DISRESPECT - TRIPLE THREAT CHALLENGE - WZ, PUBG, FORTNITE
4,320 watching -
2:12:54
The Quartering
4 hours agoAdam Schiff IN TROUBLE, Woke Lefties MELTDOWN Over Temu, Karmelo Anthony Family LIES, & Much More
103K33 -
1:12:00
RiftTV/Slightly Offensive
2 hours ago $3.46 earnedWho KILLED Virginia Giuffre? Only 11% of Black Chicago Students Can READ? | The Rift Report
17.7K19 -
LIVE
The HotSeat
1 hour agoDeporting Illegals, Arresting Judges, and Saving Women's Sports — More, Please!
620 watching -
25:18
Scary Mysteries
3 hours agoSTRANGE & SCARY Mysteries Of The Month - April 2025
6.85K4 -
1:35:24
Russell Brand
5 hours agoEpstein’s Most Famous Accuser Found DEAD—Was She Silenced? – SF573
144K35 -
1:49:00
Tucker Carlson
5 hours agoCatherine Fitts: Bankers vs. the West, Secret Underground Bases, and the Oncoming Extinction Event
108K104 -
1:27:37
Sean Unpaved
4 hours agoPlayoff Fever, Draft Drama, MLB Thrillers & Belichick's Plus-One
42.9K3 -
1:04:08
Jeff Ahern
2 hours ago $0.86 earnedMonday Madness with Jeff Ahern (12pm Pacific)
12.8K2