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Nashville, TN

Weather Forecast Office

Rip Currents

Weather.gov > Nashville, TN > Rip Currents

For more information about rip currents, please visit this safety page from the National Weather Service Tallahassee office.

What is a Rip Current?

A rip current is a strong, narrow current of water flowing away from shore. Rip Currents commonly form around breaks in sandbars and near jetties/piers. It's a natural treadmill travelling up to 8 feet per second - faster than an Olympic swimmer.

Rip current information is provided alongside an illustration of a rip current pulling someone away from the beach and a photo of a flashing beach warning sign on Ft Morgan. A rip current is a powerful channel of water that moves away from the shore. Rip currents are more intense near inlets, jetties, and piers. A rip current is dangerous because it can sweep even the strongest swimmers out to sea. Rip currents can be LIFE-THREATENING to anyone entering the surf. Always swim near a lifeguard and follow the advice of beach patrol and beach flag warning systems. Caught in a rip current? Don't fight the current. Swim parallel to the beach. If you cannot escape, YELL for help. Try to relax and float or tread water.

 

How to Spot a Rip Current

Waves do NOT need to be huge for rip currents to form. Rip currents are often present in channel cuts through sandbars. They can also occur where there are hard structures (in the vicinity of inlets, jetties, or piers) or even rocks jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico! 

Rip currents are often found in areas where waves are not breaking. The flat water located between breaking waves is the rip current flowing away from the beach out to sea.

Tips for how to spot a rip current are provided alongside two aerial photos of strong rip currents along Pensacola Beach in 2021. Rip currents are easier to identify from an elevated vantage point such as a lifeguard stand, dune line, or even at the beach access point. Rip currents are the darker-colored channels of water with waves crashing on both sides.

Tips for how to spot a rip current are provided alongside two example photos that use the clues to locate the rip current. A rip current is a fast-flowing channel of water moving away from the shore and out to sea. Clues to identifying a rip current are provided on the graphic. Clue #1 is water texture - rip currents are often found in areas where waves are NOT breaking. Clue #2 is the color of the water - the water is often darker in a rip current. Clue #3 is water movement - look for a line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving away from the shore.

Tips for how to spot a rip current are provided alongside a still photo taken from an animation of green dye dropped into the water at a beach, which shows the green dye being transported away from the beach in the rip current. The green dye shows the movement of water AWAY from shore in a rip current. Think of a rip current like a treadmill in the water. Rip currents can QUICKLY pull you out into the Gulf of Mexico. Rip currents are FAST - they can travel as fast as 8 feet per second, which is faster than an Olympic swimmer.

 

Rip Currents and Sunny Weather

DO NOT ASSUME. Great beach weather does not always mean it's safe to swim or play in the water. Rip currents often form on calm, sunny days.

Three bright, sunny beach photos with rip currents are used to illustrate the point that rip currents often occur in the absence of storms on great beach days; on calm, sunny days; on days with warm water temperatures; and on days with low surf.

 

Safety Tips

Swimming in a pool is NOT the same as swimming at a beach with crashing waves, winds, and dangerous rip currents. 

 

Tips to know BEOFRE you go:

  • Check the beach forecast BEOFRE you enter the Gulf
  • Look for beach warning signs or flags
  • If unsure about conditions, ask a lifeguard
  • Always swim near lifeguards and know how to swim BEFORE venturing in

Beach safety tips are provided alongside a visual of the sun shining through the bottom of a red lifeguard stand at a sandy beach. Beach Safety Tips: Only swim at beaches with lifeguards. Know how to swim. Never swim alone. And most importantly, if in doubt, don't go out!

Rip current safety tips are provided alongside the beach warning flags, an illustration of a rip current pulling someone away from the beach, and photos of local beaches and the beach warning flags. It is important to always swim near lifeguards if at all possible. If you cannot swim, stay away from the surf. Swimming at the beach is not the same as swimming in a pool. Double red flags mean the water is closed and you could be arrested or fined for entering the water under these conditions. A single red flag means a high hazard with high surf and/or strong currents. A yellow flag means a medium hazard with moderate surf and/or currents. A green flag means a low hazard with calm conditions, but it’s still wise to exercise caution. A purple flag will sometimes fly with the other flags and means dangerous marine life is lurking in the water. The absence of flags does not assure safe waters.

 

How to Survive a Rip Current

Caught in a rip current? DO NOT PANIC!

  • Relax and float to conserve energy
  • Good swimmer? Swim parallel to shore until you clear the pull of the rip current
  • Not a skilled swimmer? Flip on your back and float
  • WAVE AND YELL to get the lifeguard's attention

Tips for how to survive a rip current are provided alongside a photo of a rip current and illustrations denoting what to do in the rip current. How to survive a rip current: Do not panic! Rip currents will not pull you under the water. Do not swim against the current (aka toward the beach). Instead, swim out of the current (aka parallel to the beach). If you cannot escape the rip current, FLOAT. Yell and wave for help.

 

Human Chains

See someone caught in a rip current? Do not attempt a rescue by forming a human chain! Beachgoers that attempt a rip current rescue by themselves or as a human chain may end up needing to be rescued. Instead, call 9-1-1 and throw them a floatation device.

Tips on the right way to help if you see someone caught in a rip current at the beach are provided alongside several photos of rip current rescues and a human chain. It is easy to underestimate the power of water and quickly become exhausted in a rip current. In some cases, beachgoers attempted a rip current rescue by linking arms to form what’s called a human chain (this is not recommended). Beachgoers that attempt a rip current rescue as a human chain or by themselves may end up needing to be rescued. Always let a lifeguard make the rip current rescue. If you are visiting the beach and see someone in distress, here are the best actions to take: Alert a lifeguard or CALL 9-1-1 if a lifeguard is not available. Yell to the distressed swimmer to FLOAT or TREAD WATER. Throw a flotation device to the distressed swimmer (good options are a boogie board, cooler, or pool noodles/rafts). Yell to the distressed swimmer to REMAIN CALM.

 

Be a Hero

See someone in trouble in a rip current at the beach? Do not go after them. Instead, call for help! Lifeguard not available? Throw them something that floats, but do NOT attempt a rescue. Even lifeguards only attempt a rescue using a floatation device!

Tips on how to be a hero at the beach are provided alongside a visual of a woman with a superhero cape. See someone in trouble? It is important to know your options to keep yourself and others around you safe when visiting the beach. See someone caught in a rip current? STAY CALM and immediately get the attention of a nearby lifeguard. Lifeguard not available? CALL 911 for help. IMPORTANT: Don't be a victim. Always let a lifeguard make the rip current rescue, so YOU do not end up needing to be rescued. The RIGHT WAY To Help! Scan your surroundings and throw them something that floats. Not sure what floats? Look for bigger items near you like a boogie board, an empty cooler, or even pool noodles/rafts. Protect yourself so you can protect others - do not attempt a rip current rescue yourself or as a human chain. Even lifeguards only attempt rip current rescues using a flotation device.

 

Your Safe Place from a Rip Current

Do your vacation plans involve the beach? Always look for beach warning flags, often posted on or near a lifeguard stand.

Your SAFE PLACE from RIP CURRENTS is provided alongside a visual of a lifeguard holding a flotation device under an umbrella with waves crashing in the background image. Rip currents kill over 100 beach-goers in the U.S. each year. When visiting the ocean, you are safest at beaches with lifeguards. If rip currents are forecast for the beach you're visiting, stay out of the water!

 

Rip Currents and Distant Hurricanes

Tropical systems that are hundreds of miles away in the Gulf can cause rough surf and deadly rip currents at the beach.

A map of a fictitious coastal area is shown in the background with a tropical system looming in the distance and waves heading toward the beaches. The text on the graphic reads: Distant hurricanes can be deadly. Hurricanes that are far away can still create deadly rip currents and waves. Never assume that the ocean is safe, even if the weather is nice. For maximum safety, swim near a lifeguard. Check the forecast before you go at weather.gov/beach.

 

Break the Grip of the Rip

Caught in a rip current? Relax and float to conserve energy. The rip current will not pull you under. It will only pull you away from shore. If you try to fight the rip current and swim against it, you wear yourself out. Instead, FLOAT!

Tips to escape a rip current are provided alongside an illustration of a rip current pulling someone away from the beach with the sub-headline stating to know your options. Rip currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer away from shore. If at all possible, swim near a lifeguard. Tips if Caught in a Rip Current: Try to relax as rip currents don’t pull you under the water. Don’t swim against the current. Swim out of the current, then toward the beach. If you can’t escape, float or tread water. If you need help, yell or wave for assistance.

 

 

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