Rip Current Identification

Sometimes, you can see signs in the water that show that a rip current is present. You may see:

A channel of churning, choppy water
Areas with a noticeable color difference in the water
A break in the oncoming wave pattern
A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving away from the shore

While this list contains some more obvious ways to identify them, rip currents can form without any visible signs. In order to be safe, never swim alone and swim at beaches patrolled by lifeguards. If you think there may be a rip current, don’t go out in the water.