Whether you are planning to go to the beach today in the NYC or Long Island area, or you are planning a trip here beware of Ocean Rip Currents.  Even if you are sitting on the beach in California reading this...it can happen to you too!

A "Rip Current" occurs when a beach's retreating waves move very rapidly out to sea.  A swimmer is often fooled into trying to swim directly back to shore, fighting the current.  These currents can take you many hundreds of feet offshore severely tiring even the strongest swimmer.  Even the strongest swimmer can drown if not careful.

If you are ever caught in a rip current, simply swim parallel to the shore line until the current subsides.  Often these currents are only 20 or 30 feet wide.    

Here is the statement from the National Weather Service.

High risk of rip currents today at Atlantic beaches of New York
City and Long Island...

An onshore flow of 10 to 15 mph coupled with a long period onshore
swell will produce a high risk of rip currents today at area
Atlantic beaches. Strong rip currents were reported at Long Island
beaches on Monday... and with favorable conditions for rip currents
forecast today... this warrants the high risk.

A high risk of rip currents implies that wind and/or wave
conditions support the development of very strong rip currents.
These rip currents will be life threatening to anyone who enters
the surf.

Enjoy the beach, but just be safe.