Rip Currents: Why Swimming Strength Isn’t Enough

The National Weather Service issued a warning on June 10, 2026, regarding hazardous swimming conditions and high rip currents. The agency stated that these currents can overwhelm swimmers regardless of their physical strength or experience level.

Why are rip currents dangerous for open-water swimmers?

Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that flow from the shore back out to sea. According to the National Weather Service, these currents are hazardous because they move swimmers rapidly away from the beach.

The agency emphasized that swimming ability does not provide immunity to these conditions.

People underestimate rip currents until it’s too late. The ocean doesn’t care how strong a swimmer you think you are.National Weather Service

These currents don’t pull swimmers under the water. Instead, they push them away from the coastline, which often leads to panic and exhaustion as swimmers try to swim directly back to shore against the current.

How should swimmers respond to rip current warnings?

The National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommend that swimmers avoid fighting the current.

Athletes and recreational swimmers are advised to swim parallel to the shoreline until they are out of the current’s pull. Once clear of the channel, they should swim at an angle back to the beach.

If a swimmer cannot escape the current, the recommended action is to float or tread water to conserve energy until the current weakens or help arrives.

What is the difference between rip currents and undertows?

While often confused, rip currents and undertows are different phenomena. An undertow is a short-term backwash of waves that moves water back toward the ocean after a wave breaks.

In contrast, rip currents are sustained channels of water that can travel significant distances away from the shore. According to NOAA data, rip currents are responsible for the majority of ocean rescue calls.

This distinction is critical for open-water athletes. An undertow is a momentary force, but a rip current is a structural movement of water that can displace a swimmer hundreds of yards from the coast in minutes.