CLEVELAND — As winds start to pick up with an incoming storm system moving across Ohio later on, the National Weather Service is urging swimmers to avoid Lake Erie on Wednesday and Thursday.
NWS issued a Beach Hazards Statement for several counties along the shoreline due to the high risk of rip currents, including Lucas, Ottawa, Erie, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake and Ashtabula counties.
The NWS urges swimmers to stay away from the water, as wind and waves are causing intense rip currents.
Rip currents pull people away from the shore, and they vary in speed. The U.S. Lifesaving Association warns even the strongest swimmer can get carried away from the shore.
(National Weather Service)
Around 80% of rescues are performed because of rip currents, according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association.
If you’re ever caught in a rip current, here’s what you can do:
“Relax so rip currents don’t pull you under
Don’t swim against the current
You may be able to escape by swimming out of the current in a direction following the shoreline, or toward breaking waves, then at an angle toward the beach
You may be able to escape by floating or treading water if the current circulates back toward shore
If you feel you will be unable to reach shore, draw attention to yourself. If you need help, yell and wave for assistance”
Rip currents can be spotted a few ways. Sometimes it can be seen as a narrow gap of darker, calmer water between waves and whitewater. It could also look like a channel of choppy water, but the key sign is a difference in water color.
For more tips and warnings about rip currents, click here.