Rip currents a major hazard
Regardless of Erin’s track, rough surf and rip currents will pose a significant hazard to beaches throughout the Antilles, eastern U.S., Bermuda, and Atlantic Canada as the hurricane both strengthens and grows in size over the next week.
Rip currents form when waves hit the beach head-on, creating narrow currents of water that rush back out to sea.
STAY SAFE: Rip currents are a natural hazard along coasts – here’s how to spot them
These currents don’t pull you underwater like they show on television—instead, they quickly pull you away from the beach out to sea. Swimmers often exhaust themselves trying to fight against the current, sometimes to the point of succumbing to the waves.
Always heed the advice and orders of local officials and stay out of the water if there’s a threat for rip currents. Don’t panic if you’re ever caught in a rip current. If you can’t swim, calmly signal for help and tread water until assistance arrives. Swimmers should swim parallel to the beach until you’re out of the rip current, then swim back to shore.
WATCH: What is a rip current and what makes it so dangerous?