Skip to header Skip to Content Skip to Footer

Rip Currents

Severe Weather

UNCW is close to many beaches that are great for swimming, surfing and taking breaks from campus life. It's important that you recognize rip current hazards.

Learn about rip currents and what to do if you encounter one.

About Rip Currents

Rip currents are strong currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically form when wave patterns are altered by physical features such as breaks in sandbars in the surf zone, jetties or piers.  Rip currents can happen at any time of year, even in nice weather.

RIP CURRENTS:

  • may rapidly increase in speed
  • unexpectedly pull swimmers away from shore
  • can have a notable difference in water color
  • may look like a break in the incoming wave pattern

 

LOCAL INFORMATION LINKS

New Hanover County Emergency Management - Beach Safety
Town of Wrightsville Beach - Rip Current Safety
Ground Level Rip Current Video
National Weather Service - Rip Current

NOAA's Rip Current Video

Avoid and Survive

Follow these tips to limit the dangers of rip currents:

  • Never swim alone
  • Be cautious at all times, especially when swimming at unguarded beaches. If in doubt, don't go out!
  • Obey all instructions and orders from lifeguards
  • Know your flags!

Follow these tips if you are caught in a rip current:

  • Remain calm!
  • Don't fight the current
  • Swim out of the current by swimming parallel to the shoreline
  • When out of the current, swim towards shore
  • If you are still unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself:
    • Face the shore
    • Wave your arms
    • Yell for help
  • If you see someone in trouble, get help from a lifeguard, or call 9-1-1
  • Many people drown while trying to save someone else from a rip current

Color Flag Definitions

Color Flag Definitions
Green Flag Lower hazard. Conditions are calm. Normal care and caution should be exercised.
Yellow Flag Medium hazard. Moderate surf and/or currents are present. Weak swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. For others, enhanced care and caution should be exercised.
Red Flag High hazard. Rough conditions such as strong surf and/or currents are present. All swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. Those entering the water should take great care. Wind and/or wave conditions are expected to support the development of very strong rip currents. This category implies that water conditions are life threatening to all people who enter the surf. There may be a high number of rescues on red flag days.
Double Red Water is closed to public use.
Quartered (black and white) At our local beaches these flags will be used in pairs to indicate the boundaries of a designated area where surfboards are prohibited. Quartered flags may have a different meaning elsewhere.
Purple Dangerous marine animals (such as jellyfish or Man O'War) capable of causing minor injuries are present.  This flag DOES NOT indicate sharks.
top