Dangerous rip currents are hitting off Southern California beaches this weekend, increasing the risk of ocean drowning, but there are measures ocean-goers can take to keep themselves safe.
Four to six feet surf with sets up to seven feet are expected; and those entering the water should keep an eye out for rip currents. Anyone trapped in a rip current should swim parallel to shore to escape, and then swim back to the beach, experts say.
“Rip currents are sort of the opposite of waves in that waves are energy going into the beach, and since there has to be an opposite reaction, rip currents are the energy going back out of the beach,” said Chandler Price, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s San Diego office.
The stronger and larger waves are, the stronger the rip currents will be, Price added.
Rip currents should be avoided. They are generally characterized by smaller waves or a lack of them.
“So, you know, that nice area of the ocean that looks calmer than the rest of them is not a good place to swim necessarily because that’s generally where the rip currents are going to be,” Price said.
Rip currents may also be a different color from the rest of the ocean, especially if they drag up sediment and sand.
The National Weather Service issued Beach Hazard Statements for Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties that will remain in effect through Sunday evening.
The increased hazardous beach conditions are due to an increased southerly swell, and this one is being caused by a hurricane that developed off Mexico’s western coast.
The good news is that the storm is now gone, but the dangerous ripple effect remains for beach-goers in the Southern California until Monday morning, according to Kristan Lund, a meteorologist with the NWS. Southerly facing beaches and beaches near jetties will see an increase in stronger rip currents.
Newport Beach Lifeguards on social media reported rescuing 10 swimmers from “monster rip currents” on the Fourth of July, a small fraction of the 350+ rescues made in Newport Beach that Friday.
Huntington Beach lifeguards rescued 152 people on the Fourth of July.
“The powerful surf produced rip currents that were pulling hundreds of yards offshore into deeper water,” Huntington Beach Fire Department Marine Safety Division Chief Trevor McDonald said in a news release. “It was common to see large wave sets roll through, followed by multiple monster rip currents forming at once and pulling water — and swimmers — rapidly out to sea.”
Brad Herzog, captain at OC Lifeguards, recommended people check lifeguard station flags. A green flag indicates the lowest threat level, whereas the red flag, indicative of the highest threat level, means only experts, such as lifeguards, can go into the water.
Here are other recommendations from experts on how beach-goers can keep themselves safe amid the presence of dangerous rip currents:
- Swim near a lifeguard
- Keep an eye on everyone in your group
- Stay hydrated
- Know what rip currents look like and avoid them
- Know how to get out of a rip current
If you do find yourself caught in a rip current, don’t try to swim back to shore because you’ll likely tire yourself out. Experts recommend swimming parallel to shore until you’re out of the rip current. Once you’re out, it’s then time to swim back to shore.
According to Lund, if another hurricane forms off Mexico’s western coast this week, Southern Californians could expect to see another round of increased beach hazards by Friday.