rip current: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

Oct. 26, 2026

News •

UPDATE: Rip current statement issued for Coastal Pender until Monday evening • Oct. 19, 2026, 2:43 AM ET (The Charlotte Observer)

Facts

Also Known As	rip tide • riptide

Photos

Aerial view of a rip current flowing through a gap between sandbars, with foamy water moving from the shore out to deeper water.

See All Images →

Topics

Why are rip currents dangerous?wave undertow rogue wave seiche What Is the Difference Between a Meteotsunami, a Seiche, and a Storm Surge?internal wave

water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)

Water and its Varying Forms