Rip currents form when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach. One of the ways this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow stream of water moving swiftly away from shore, often perpendicular to the shoreline.

How often do rips occur?

According to NOAA, over a 10-year average, rip currents cause 46 deaths annually in the United States, and 64 people died in rip currents in 2013. However, the United States Lifesaving Association "estimates that the annual number of deaths due to rip currents on our nation's beaches exceeds 100."

Are rip currents seasonal?

The strength of rip currents can be seasonal. ... Rip currents lose their power at the surf line, the area where waves begin to break. Surfers can coast out to the surf line on a rip current and wait for the perfect wave. A swimmer caught in a rip current can be in much more danger than a surfer.