Avoiding and Escaping Rip Currents

Re:Avoiding and Escaping Rip Currents by code_duck on Tuesday July 13, 2010 @12:48AM (#1510400)

This is a major problem on the Great Lakes, too. Scary because I'm planning on taking a Lake Michigan swimming trip ASAP but I don't have anyone to come and swim with me this time :(

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Re:Avoiding and Escaping Rip Currents by woodall on Tuesday July 13, 2010 @03:18AM (#1510625)

Here[1] is a piece specifically about the Great Lakes. It comes out of the 2009 Great Lakes Rip Current Conference.

[1] http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/coastal_communities/rip

[2] http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/newsletter/2004/06/rip_currents_...

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"Rip currents are formed when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach. One of the ways that this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow jet of water moving swiftly offshore, roughly perpendicular to the shoreline. Rip currents can be found on many surf beaches every day. Rip currents most typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes."

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Re:Avoiding and Escaping Rip Currents by code_duck on Tuesday July 13, 2010 @02:34PM (#1512305)

yeah, it's also forecast to be particularly bad in Lake Superior this year because the surface water is 10-20 degrees warmer than usual. Good swimming, except for the whole drowning angle. Thanks for the links.

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