Rip Currents, Rip Tides, and Undertows: What You Need to Know Before Beach Day

Many people believe rip currents and riptides are the same, but they are not. Knowing what both are can mean the difference between life and death.

Riptides, rip currents, and undertows present dangerous challenges when swimming at the beach, but here’s what to know about them to keep you and your family safe.

What are rip currents?

Rip currents are fast-moving channels of water that flow back toward the ocean through weak or broken sandbars after a wave breaks on the shore. Often occurring at the beach, rip currents can move up to eight feet per second, sweeping even the strongest swimmers out far from shore. 

While rip currents can occur at any time, storms increase the risk and danger of being caught in them. Rip current hazard tends to be strongest when tropical storms are off the coastline.

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What are riptides?

Riptides are fast-moving water currents usually flowing through a river inlet or body of water between two barriers. Riptides are more powerful than rip currents and are especially dangerous. These narrow channels of water produce currents that can carry a swimmer hundreds or thousands of feet from the shoreline. 

Unlike rip currents, riptides occur in generally calm waters and mainly occur during low tide, when water is pulled away from an inlet toward the ocean.

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What are undertows?

Undertows form when water from breaking waves rushes back toward the ocean. Unlike rip currents, where water flows back toward the ocean via a broken sandbar, undertows flow under the breaking wave back into the next breaking wave, in a circular motion.

Undertows will not pull swimmers out toward the ocean like rip currents or rip tides, but instead pull them underwater a few feet from shore. Dangers unique to undertows are head and neck injuries due to hitting the sand underwater, as well as drowning. 

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How to stay safe on Beach Day

• Check the weather. Just because the sun is out, does not mean the coast is clear. Remember, rip currents are strongest and most likely before and after a storm. If there is tropical weather near the beach you plan to visit, it might be wise to stay out of the water.
• Check the tide report. Riptides are influenced by the rise and fall of the tide. Be sure to check the weather report for tide flow times in your area.
• Use flotation devices (even if you can swim). It may seem unnecessary to wear a life jacket if you already know how to swim, but it can mean the difference between life and death. Floatation devices will keep you above water if carried out by a rip current or riptide and will help you float to the surface if caught in an undertow.
• Only swim when a lifeguard is present. Lifeguards are there to enforce beach safety. Never swim out of sight of the lifeguard or when there is no one on duty. If there is no lifeguard on the beach, the water is likely not safe due to the increased risk of rip currents or riptides. 
• Never swim alone. It is dangerous to swim alone at the beach or otherwise. Bring someone with you or notify someone if you plan to swim at the beach for the day.
• Never let children swim unsupervised. Small children are especially susceptible to becoming caught in undertows. It does not matter how well your child can swim – never let children swim without supervision. 

Knowing the difference between rip currents, riptides, and undertows and taking these safety precautions seriously will help you and your family stay safe during the beach season.