Break the Grip of the Rip!

On this date in 2001, five people drowned and dozens had to be rescued from rough Gulf of Mexico waters during a two day period of rip currents along the Northwest Florida coast.

The powerful channels of outflowing water were caused by strong onshore winds that resulted from the combined effects of strong high pressure and the remnants of Tropical Storm Allison that had moved ashore in Texas the day before.

Conditions became so bad that storm warning sirens were sounded at Pensacola Beach.

It is estimated that one hundred Americans lose their lives in rip currents each year.

June 6-12 is Rip Current Awareness Week. The slogan is “Break the Grip of the Rip!”

If you are caught in one of these powerful outflowing currents, swim parallel to the shore. If you can’t do that, relax and tread water until the current dissipates.

The National Weather Service Mobile issues daily surf zone forecasts for the beaches of Alabama and Northwest Florida. Many other coastal offices do as well.

Visit the official NWS site at https://ripcurrents.noaa.gov for more information.

Follow my daily weather history tweets on Twitter @wxhistorian.

Category: Pre-November 2010 Posts