CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hurricane Ernesto will reach the island of Bermuda this weekend. Even though we're hundreds of miles away in the Carolinas, impacts are still happening along the coast.
From Savannah, Georgia, to the Outer Banks, there is a high rip current risk through Monday. Residents and visitors can also expect elevated wave heights and beach erosion.
According to the National Weather Service, rip currents are strong, narrow channels of water that extend from close to the shoreline to outside of the surf zone. They are found on almost any beach with breaking waves and act as “rivers of the sea,” moving sand, marine organisms and other material offshore.
The best way to stay safe from a rip current is to swim at a lifeguard-monitored beach or avoid the water when rip currents are present. However, if you do get caught in one, here are some safety tips to know:
If you can float, you might even just relax and "go with the flow." Rip currents do not usually go out very far so the rip current can carry you to a calmer area.
Overall, the key is to not panic, swim toward the breaking waves (parallel to the shore), or float until you're away from danger.