Florida Beaches Experiencing Dangerous Rip Currents

Summer is in full swing, and it's an especially scary one in Florida when it comes to dangerous rip currents. Lots of people are heading to the Sunshine State for some fun summer vacation time, but along with the beautiful scenery and lovely sunshine comes some danger in the water. Here's what you should know.

It's already been a dangerous season for Florida rip currents. According to The News Herald, seven people have drowned in the waters off Bay County since March 2024. Six of those drownings happened within just eight days. "Two weeks ago a Pennsylvania couple drowned while swimming off Stuart Beach during a vacation with their six kids," they note. Also, "An off-duty Sarasota County lifeguard at Lido Beach saved nine people Saturday, including a family of seven, after they were swept out more than 200 yards into the Gulf of Mexico." It's really sad to see. Weather.com also notes how dangerous Florida rip currents have been this season. In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) predicts an above-average 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, which would mean more instances of dangerous rip currents on the coasts. Even so, remember that dangerous rip currents can happen anytime and anywhere along the coast, even without a hurricane.

So, how do you stay safe amid rip currents? According to the NOAA, "Rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of fast-moving water that are prevalent along the East, Gulf, and West coasts of the U.S., as well as along the shores of the Great Lakes." They add that, "Moving at speeds of up to eight feet per second, rip currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer." What do you do if you get caught in a rip current? The NOAA says, "Trying to swim straight to the beach against a rip current is just too difficult. Even a good swimmer will become tired and might even drown. The best escape is to turn sideways to the shore, and wade or swim until you are out of the rip current." They add, "then, move back toward shore at an angle away from the rush of water." Also, they note that in a dangerous situation, it's often difficult to tell which way to swim. So, think of it as swimming towards the breaking waves. So, the best thing to do if you're caught in a rip current is to turn sideways to the shore, and also wade or swim until you are safely out of the rip current. Keep reading below for severe weather safety information.

Nobody likes dealing with severe weather. But, it's part of life. Depending on where you live in the United States, you might come up against hurricanes, tornados, severe thunderstorms, blizzards and more. I've certainly had my fair share of severe weather events. Probably my most vivid memory was being in an ice storm, which knocked power out for about a week where I lived, including during Christmas. It was freezing cold, so my family and I had to go to a hotel that was out of town. Needless to say, our Christmas plans were totally different that year. So, what are some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life?

Before we get to the main tips, let's get through some basics. Stay informed when a severe weather event is approaching. It's simple but important. You don't want to be caught off guard when bad weather strikes. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Weather Service both have information that they provide leading up to and during a severe weather event. So, make sure to get the latest information in the case of any weather emergency. Local meteorologists also have good information, but the main alerts come from the National Weather Service.

Another mistake some people make is not taking "watches" seriously. For example, you might see that there's a severe thunderstorm watch in your area and think, oh, it's just a watch, I can go out for a walk. Don't do it. "A watch is used when the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain," the National Weather Service explains. We'll get more into the specifics of a watch, warning and advisory later in this story.

Let's get into some severe weather safety tips that may safe your life.

A weather advisory, watch and warning all need to be taken seriously. So, what do they mean? According to the National Weather Service, "a warning is issued when a hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely." A watch is where "the risk of a hazardous weather or hydrologic event has increased significantly, but its occurrence, location or timing is still uncertain." Finally, an advisory means, "hazardous weather or hydrologic event is occurring, imminent or likely."

During a severe thunderstorm, and any severe weather event, the best thing to do is stay inside and sheltered. "The best defense against thunderstorms is to stay inside a sturdy building or shelter that can protect you from deadly lightning, large hail, damaging winds, flooding rain and tornadoes," the National Weather Service says. Also, you don't want to risk getting hit by lightning, like in the image below.

During a tornado, get underground if possible. If you don't have a basement, get to the lowest floor possible. Also, during a tornado, watch for flying and falling debris. The National Weather Service advises to "use pillows, blankets, coats, helmets, etc. to cover up and protect your head and body from flying debris."

Be prepared. Have a good emergency kit, both in your house and your car. For the car, "An emergency kit should include booster cables, shovel, tow rope, sand or cat litter, and a flashlight with extra batteries," the National Weather Service says. "Do not forget a first aid kit, non-perishable food, and blankets or sleeping bags."

This one my mom and dad always tell me to do. And, they're right. "Keep your gas tank near full to avoid ice in the tank and fuel line," the National Weather Service advises.

Heat can make for a severe weather event, too. So, dress appropriately when it gets really hot. "Lightweight, light-colored clothing reflects heat and sunlight, and helps your body maintain normal temperatures," the National Weather Service says. They add to guzzle lots of "water or non-alcoholic fluids."

Sometimes, you just have to leave ahead of the storm to be safe. In the case of a hurricane, the National Weather Service says to "leave immediately if ordered." They also say that if you are allowed to stay, to "take refuge in a small interior room, closet or hallway on the lowest level during the storm. Put as many walls between you and the outside as you can," and "stay away from windows, skylights and glass doors."

Weather isn't just about thunderstorms and tornados. Air quality is a big part of weather events these days, too. Be on the lookout for air quality alerts in your area. If you have respiratory issues, you should wear a mask when out and about in bad air quality. You should also say inside if the air quality is especially bad.

Even on a perfect weather day, if you're at the beach, there are risks. The NOAA states, "To stay safe, you need to stay aware of the weather, the ocean, tide, and what is going on around you." They add, "Storms, such as thunderstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes far out at sea can create dangerous waves and currents at the beach, even on a sunny day!"