Beach safety tips ahead of big July 4 weekend: How to escape rip currents and more
Before wading into the water, here's a look at how to remain safe when swimming this summer season.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), rip currents are channeled currents of water that flow away from shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves.
Although rip currents most often happen at low tide, they can occur at any time. Lifeguards are trained to look for indicators such as discolored water, fewer breaking waves, and lines of foam, seaweed or other floating debris.
ALL TO KNOW ON 100TH PONY PENNING: Chincoteague Pony Swim, Auction at 100th year, with grand festivities, heightened security
Swimmers should do the following when caught in a rip current, according to the NOAA:
Don't fight the current.
Try to remain calm to conserve energy.
Swim across the current in a direction following the shoreline.
When out of the current, swim and angle away from the current and towards shore.
HAIL TO THE STATE CHAMPS: Midway through decade, which Bayside South teams have won state championships in 2020s?
The National Park Service (NPS) advises swimmers to check for rip current advisories at a park visitor center or on NOAA's beach forecast prior to entering the water.
Here are some additional swimming tips, according to the NPS:
Always swim with a buddy.
Children should swim only with adult supervision.
Do not jump or dive from the docks at any tide height.
Be alert for boats, as boaters may not see you in the water.
Watch the weather. Don't swim during thunderstorms when lightning is dangerous.
Non-swimmers should use Coast Guard-approved flotation vests, even while wading.
Watch your footing when wading, as sudden changes in depth can occur even in the bay.
Don't wear shiny objects when swimming, as these objects may attract sharks and other fish.
Swim sober, because alcohol can affect your judgment and body temperature, impairing your ability to swim.
BIG BUSINESS NEWS ALL AROUND: Ocean City welcomes new big Boardwalk restaurant, plus oceanfront bar | What's Going There
Although Assateague Island National Seashore is still without lifeguards, swimming is permitted. The park, famous for its beautiful beaches and wild horses, remains open in both states.
For information about hours and much more, visit the Assateague Island National Seashore website.
Olivia Minzola covers communities on the Lower Shore. Contact her with tips and story ideas at ominzola@delmarvanow.com.
This article originally appeared on Salisbury Daily Times: Beach safety tips: How to remain safe when swimming this summer season
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Boston Globe
3 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Air quality plummets with wildfire smoke blanketing the region
'The wildfire smoke includes soot particles. They are invisible products of combustion generated by large and numerous fires. They penetrate your system through your lungs,' said Albert Simeoni, head of the department of Fire Protection Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 'There are also gases generated, such as ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and diverse aromatic compounds, but the particulates are the main risk, and they travel far. All these particulates and gases have health effects.' Advertisement The areas most impacted by the smoke stretch across northern New England. Air quality has reached unhealthy levels on Monday for most of the region. Boston Globe Smoke can be seen across New England in satellite imagery below, with the dull gray covering the region. A number of people have written in to mention the smell of campfire in the air. A blanket of smoke stretches west to east across New England on Monday morning. NOAA Canada is experiencing a terrible wildfire season with nearly 4,000 wildfires so far this year, close to a record pace. There are currently 700 active wildfires, with around 200 raging out of control. At this point last year, about 7 million acres had burned in Canada. This year, it's about 17 million acres and counting. More than 700 wildfires are burning across Canada, with the smoke reaching New England. CIFFC How long can we expect haze across New England? Our weather pattern will likely keep haze in the picture for the next few days, as high pressure over eastern Canada will direct the smoke plume into the United States, stretching from the Midwest to New England on Tuesday and beyond. Advertisement A surface front will help lift some of the smoke on Tuesday, but not entirely, and air quality alerts may remain in place in some areas. Canadian wildfire smoke continues across New England on Tuesday. Boston Globe Beyond Tuesday, smoke will fan and thin out across New England, keeping some haze in the picture as high pressure remains in control, but not as dense near the surface. By the weekend, high pressure will likely dip south of Boston, which will shift the wind direction and clear most of the smoke away. Ken Mahan can be reached at
The Hill
4 hours ago
- The Hill
Canadian wildfire smoke hangs over Midwest, Northeast US, causing poor air quality
Parts of the Midwest and Northeast are experiencing poor air quality Monday as smoke from Canadian wildfires drifts into the U.S. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said Monday in a social media post that '#Smoke from Canadian #wildfires is continuing to bring #AirQuality Alerts to parts of the Upper Midwest and Northeast today.' 'There is also a #SlightRisk of severe #thunderstorms across parts of the High Plains this afternoon,' NOAA added. The government's AirNow Fire and Smoke Map showed unhealthy air quality in cities including Milwaukee and Buffalo, N.Y., and parts of Detroit as of Monday morning. Other cities including Grand Rapids and Lansing in Michigan and Cleveland, Ohio, were listed as having air quality that was unhealthy for sensitive groups. Several states were under air quality advisories on Monday morning. The Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre listed 743 active fires on Monday morning, including 298 that were considered out of control.
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
National Hurricane Center Maps Track Three Atlantic Developments
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Meteorologists are tracking three weather systems raging out over the Atlantic this week, amid fears that fierce winds could morph into U.S.-bound hurricanes. A map published by the National Hurricane Center looks particularly congested right now, as the forecasters plot areas of concern to help shape their predictions of how the weather patterns will develop. The area is "heating up," the experts warned on X. Advisories have already been issued for Tropical Storm Dexter, while two further "disturbances" out at sea are also being monitored. Trees bend as they are whipped by Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Trees bend as they are whipped by Hurricane Irma on September 10, 2017, in Fort Lauderdale, It Matters Hurricane season in the U.S. is well underway and has already broken records with Hurricane Flossie becoming the earliest F-named storm ever measured. In May, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicted an "above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season," due to higher ocean temperatures. The NOAA said it expects about 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher) with 6 to 10 of those likely to become hurricanes (winds of more than 74 mph), and some 3 to 5 could be major hurricanes with winds over 111 mph. It's a fraught time for millions of Americans after a particularly brutal season last year, which culminated in swathes of destruction wreaked by Hurricane Helene, which killed hundreds of people in October. This map, shared by the National Hurricane Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Tropical Storm Dexter and two further disturbances being monitored. This map, shared by the National Hurricane Center at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Tropical Storm Dexter and two further disturbances being monitored. NOAA What To Know As hurricane-watch continues this summer, Tropical Storm Dexter has already been subject to an official advisory. As of 5 a.m. AST on Monday, the storm was seeing sustained winds of 45 mph. Hurricanes have sustained winds of 74 mph, so Dexter is some way off that point so far. And the NHC later posted on X to say that Dexter was now "forecast to move away from the U.S. coast and stay north of Bermuda." A second "disturbance" lies even closer to the southeastern coast, and has a "30 percent chance of cyclone formation in 7 days," the NHC said. "A broad area of low pressure is forecast to form in a couple of days a few hundred miles off the coast of the southeastern United States. Some gradual developing of this system is possible during the middle or latter part of the week as the system drifts to the west or northwest," the forecasters added. A third "disturbance" is deemed to be higher risk, with a "50 percent chance of cyclone formation in 7 days," NHC forecasters warned. That's because a "tropical wave" is forecast, which is a type of atmospheric trough formed of low air pressure. "A tropical wave is forecast to move off the west coast of Africa later today [Monday]. Thereafter, some gradual development of the wave is possible, and a tropical depression could form late this week while it moves generally west-northwestward across the central tropical Atlantic," meteorologist James Spann wrote on X. What People Are Saying The National Hurricane Center posted on X on Sunday: "The Tropics are heating up with 3 systems that we are monitoring." The agency shared a map showing the three weather patterns under observation. 8/3 2pm- The Tropics are heating up with 3 systems that we are monitoring. #AL95 offshore of the Carolinas has a high chance of becoming a TS by Monday as it moves away from the US. Two other systems have some development potential this week- More: — National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 3, 2025 When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned of the likelihood of an "above-normal" hurricane season for 2025 in May, Acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm said at the time: "As we witnessed last year with significant inland flooding from hurricanes Helene and Debby, the impacts of hurricanes can reach far beyond coastal communities. NOAA is critical for the delivery of early and accurate forecasts and warnings, and provides the scientific expertise needed to save lives and property." What Happens Next Residents along the eastern coast of the US should monitor their own local news and weather broadcasts for the most up-to-date information and advice.
