... High threat of rip currents in effect from Wednesday morning
through Wednesday evening from Cape Hatteras to Ocracoke Inlet...
The combination of strong onshore winds and southeast swell will
produce a high risk of rip currents from Cape Hatteras south to
Ocracoke Inlet Wednesday. South winds will increase to around 20
mph along the Outer Banks during the late morning and afternoon
hours as a front approaches from the west... while a residual 2
foot southeast swell continues along the coast. The most likely
time for life threatening rip currents is a couple of hours either
side of low tide. Low tide will occur around 5:30 PM Wednesday
afternoon.
Rip currents are strong... narrow channels of water that flow out
to sea. If you become caught in a rip current... remain calm. Try
to swim on a course that is parallel to the beach until you get
away from the rip... then swim in to shore. Do not try to swim
back to shore directly against the rip... since it can exhaust and
even kill the strongest swimmer.
Always heed the advice of lifeguards. Pay attention to flags and
signs posted near beach access points and lifeguard stations.
