RIP TIP #2: Ask a Lifeguard if there are "Channelized Rip Currents"
- ripsafety1
- Mar 22
- 2 min read
Rip Tip #2
Definition:
“Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.” - NOAA
Did you know that science has categorized 3 unique styles of rip currents each with 2 subheadings?
1. Rip currents that flow beside “structures”
2. Rip currents that are affected by the water itself
3. Rip currents that are affected by the bottom of the Lake.
I am going to explain #3 “The Lake bottom”.
Asking swimmers not to swim near a structure (pier, break-wall, jetty, rock outcropping) on a wavy day is a wise decision.
Where are you going to direct the swimmer to swim?
Is it safer in the middle of the beach?
Rip currents can be affected by the lake bottom itself. “Bathymetrically-controlled” rip currents can occur anywhere along an exposed coastline. Relentless waves will push water on to a beach. As Lake Erie is the shallowest of all the Great Lakes, it has many beaches with shallow sandbars. Sandbars are fantastic at keeping the water on the beach and not allowing it to “flow”away quickly. Water is really good at finding its own way to flow and doesn’t need our help. The water will return to the lake and will do so through the path of least resistance. As the water finds its own way back to the lake, the path of least resistance becomes more and more established until that path becomes THE path.
In others words, the flow reinforces itself, passes through the sandbars and creates a “channel” for the water to flow out. If the wind/waves remain constant OR increase in speed/direction/size, the flow will as well.
“Channelized rip currents” are extremely common, maybe even one of the most common types… and you guessed it, they can be deadly.
Please ask a lifeguard if they have noted channelized rip currents in their zones and heed the flag warnings.
Comentários