High risk for rip currents expected Wednesday

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Heading to the beach? Dangerous rip currents are expected Wednesday along South Carolina’s beaches.

The National Weather Service (NWS) said there is a high rip current risk for Charleston and Colleton Counties from Wednesday morning through the evening.

“Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” forecasters said.

Rip currents are fast-moving channels of water flowing away from the shore. They form when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach.

“One of the ways this water returns to the sea is to form a rip current, a narrow stream of moving water,” according to NWS forecasters.

If you find yourself caught in a rip current, relax and float – don’t swim against the current. If you are able, swim in a direction that follows the shoreline.

If you find yourself unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.