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rip current
(redirected from Rip currents)

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rip current

 or riptide

Narrow, jetlike stream of water that flows sporadically seaward for several minutes, in a direction perpendicular to a beach. The term riptide is a misnomer because the currents are in no way related to tides. Rip currents form at long coasts that are approached by wave trains that are nearly parallel to the shoreline. In shallow water, normal wave motion displaces the water small distances shoreward with each passing wave. During periods of large waves, water builds up at the beach and cannot escape as longshore currents, which require oblique wave approach. The buildup continues until water can escape by surging for several minutes through a low point in a breaker, creating an undertow that can be dangerous for swimmers.


rip current [′rip ‚kə·rənt]
(oceanography)
The return flow of water piled up on shore by incoming waves and wind.


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Byline: ANI Washington, October 14 (ANI): A new study has indicated that rip currents pose greater risk to swimmers than to shoreline.
Large swells from Danny are expected to produce dangerous surf conditions and life-threatening rip currents along the US east coast during the next day or two," the National Hurricane Center said, while noting the weather system was "barely" a tropical storm.
Warnings for these locations include damaging winds, flooding rain, high surf and dangerous rip currents.
 
 
 
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