Riptides

[greenroomsurfer]

Here ya go. http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/graphics.shtml Bunches of people start asking so here is some information on Riptides and for us picture pages people here ya go.View attachment 9041

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[BeachSiO2]

Here ya go. http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/graphics.shtml Bunches of people start asking so here is some information on Rip currents and for us picture pages people here ya go.View attachment 9041

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View attachment 9043

Here are some more additions to GRS' info, but first- the tide doesn't have anything to do with it so they should always be referred to as rip currents. I fixed it above. ;-)

Rip currents are especially prevalent in the spring and early summer as sand that was pulled offshore over the winter is making its way back onto the beach, which is happening right now. Another time to be VERY careful is after the passage of a tropical system, even tropical storms, as the sand that is washed just offshore will return to the beach in sand bars not as one big lump and the currents form in between the bars.

 

[lennonsdarlin]

Visitors be veeeerrry careful. My son and I were in waist deep water last weekend (with yellow flags) and it was still dragging me a bit.

 

[greenroomsurfer]

Here are some more additions to GRS' info, but first- the tide doesn't have anything to do with it so they should always be referred to as rip currents. I fixed it above. ;-)

Rip currents are especially prevalent in the spring and early summer as sand that was pulled offshore over the winter is making its way back onto the beach, which is happening right now. Another time to be VERY careful is after the passage of a tropical system, even tropical storms, as the sand that is washed just offshore will return to the beach in sand bars not as one big lump and the currents form in between the bars.

Actually there is no such thing as either, they were made up by the media years ago. They are really called Runouts but in the age of Jim Cantore they ran with it!

 

[greenroomsurfer]

the tide doesn't have anything to do with it

The Tide has everything to do with it. Real Real High tides and especially when the tide is at max ebb and max flow! Nana nana boo boo:funn:

 

[greenroomsurfer]

I forgot the most important thing to look for, when the wave face is foamy looking your looking right at one. The bigger the swell the wider the runouts are apart. Most of the swell we get around here is wind swell, the swell we received 2 Saturdays back was GROUND swell from far away that's generally when you will have really bad runouts. On really big ground swells it's almost like little Tsunami's but that usually is a West Coast thing. Once again don't ask the with the PHD he won't know what the hell he is looking at ask The old surfers they will know. Little trick to make sure, toss a piece of driftwood in if it goes strait out bingo. If the thing goes in and out and along the beach no bingo.

 

[BeachSiO2]

The Tide has everything to do with it. Real Real High tides and especially when the tide is at max ebb and max flow! Nana nana boo boo:funn:

While you could argue that tides increase water levels and thus would lead to a piling effect of water in the lee of breakwaters, the predominant rip current force is experienced due to increasing wave energy. That is why in green flag conditions there is likely very little current passing between the underwater sand bars during high low and mid-tides but when the waves pick up, they rip. This is especially in the Gulf of Mexico where you have a microtidal environment.

http://www.ripcurrents.noaa.gov/signs/rip_brochure_final.pdf

Here's another good source and note on the page about facts, it says, "Rip currents are not “undertow” or “riptides.” These improper terms should not be used to describe them."

In conferring with the final, all-knowing source, I find this for runout:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=runout&go=Go

and this for rip current
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rip_current

Please note they say in the second sentence that, "It is often called a "rip tide" or "riptide", though the occurrence is not related to tides."

Semantics and discussion aside. I am glad you posted it because they are dangerous and if a lifeguard says stay out or a red flag is flying, the majority of people should not be in the water. Let the surfers have their fun unimpeded.

 

[BeachSiO2]

I forgot the most important thing to look for, when the wave face is foamy looking your looking right at one. The bigger the swell the wider the runouts are apart. Most of the swell we get around here is wind swell, the swell we received 2 Saturdays back was GROUND swell from far away that's generally when you will have really bad runouts. On really big ground swells it's almost like little Tsunami's but that usually is a West Coast thing. Once again don't ask the with the PHD he won't know what the hell he is looking at ask The old surfers they will know. Little trick to make sure, toss a piece of driftwood in if it goes strait out bingo. If the thing goes in and out and along the beach no bingo.

Hello again. Another thing that is easy for people to spot is the shape of the beach. If the beach has "horns and cusps" where there is a point and then the beach cuts back and then goes back out to another point, the cusp area where the beach is cut back is a very likely spot to locate a rip current. This is because a sand bar is welding back on shore at the locations of the points.

Here is a picture. Note the point, or horn" in the background and then the rip current where the beach is cut back. This is common on sowal beaches.

 

[greenroomsurfer]

Wikipedia!!! What? Now you have lost all credibility. No just kidding folks BeachSio and myself know each other. By the way if I'm on Cash Cab or Who Wants to be a Millionaire I'm calling you!! If we can save lives we hope this info does it for ya.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Wikipedia!!! What? Now you have lost all credibility. No just kidding folks BeachSio and myself know each other. By the way if I'm on Cash Cab or Who Wants to be a Millionaire I'm calling you!! If we can save lives we hope this info does it for ya.

And I need surfing lessons- I have never been before! Sad but true.

You're right we do like to pick at each other, but hopefully one new person will read this and you won't have to go in and get'em!