Rip current

:Riptide redirects here. Riptide may also refer to an American TV series.

Causes and occurrence

While the precise conditions leading to a rip current are not known, the general picture is as follows. When wind and waves push water towards the shore, the previous backwash is often pushed sideways by the oncoming waves. This water streams along the shoreline until it finds an exit back to the sea. The resulting rip current is usually narrow and located in a trench between sandbars, under piers or along jetties. The current is strongest at the surface, and can dampen incoming waves, leading to the illusion of a particularly calm area, luring some swimmers in.

Related Topics:
Sandbar - Pier - Jetties

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Rip currents are stronger when the surf is rough (such as during high onshore winds, or when a strong hurricane is far offshore) or when the tide is low.

Related Topics:
Surf - Onshore - Winds - Hurricane - Offshore - Tide

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