Tropical Storm Chantal brings high rip current risks to Carolinas' beaches during holiday weekend

Tropical Storm Chantal is creating dangerous swim and surf conditions along the coastal Carolinas as many people are vacationing there for the holiday weekend. 

Red flags are waving at Wrightsville Beach, where officials are advising people to stay out of the water. 

“The rip current advisory is going to be high for today and potentially tomorrow as well. If you see red flags, under no circumstances should you get into the water,” said Sam Proffitt, the ocean rescue director at Wrightsville Beach. 

Proffitt said more than 40 lifeguards are typically working on a big holiday weekend. They’re now all on standby, preparing as life-threatening rip currents are possible.  The red flags are waving to warn people of the water’s hidden danger.

“Although it might look calm out there and we don’t have eight-foot swells coming in, rip currents can occur at any time, anywhere along the beach,” he added. 

Rip currents are the No. 1 weather-related killer in the coastal Carolinas. 

Between 2000 and 2024, there were 192 rip current drownings (around 8 per year) reported in North and South Carolina.

“For most swimmers, the only thing that they notice is that they are unable to make it back to shore. They start swimming into shore and they notice that they are moving backwards, and that’s typically where the panicking process starts, and the whole drowning process then begins,” said Proffitt. 

Nearly 200 rip current rescues took place in just four days during the Fourth of July week summer of 2024. 

On Friday alone this year, lifeguards had to rescue five people at Carolina Beach and six at Wrightsville, according to the National Weather Service. 

What to do if you do get stuck in a rip current:

• Experts say that anyone caught in a rip current should first try to remain calm and not panic.
• The goal is to swim out of the current, and not against the rip current.
• People can escape a rip current by swimming out of it perpendicularly, or reaching the end of the rip current channel and turning to swim parallel to shore.
• Those who can’t escape the rip current are urged to float or tread water, and to yell or wave their arms for help if needed.

“If you are entering the water, you know the most important thing is always swim near a lifeguard stand or staff and take some form of flotation with you,” said Proffitt. 

Visitors are advised to pay attention to the forecast and ultimately try to admire the views from afar.

“It’s probably not the best day to come out to the beach. And if you do decide to, please stay out of the ocean,” Proffitt added. 

Officials are also warning beachgoers about possible lightening in the area.  If you do not see any lifeguards on a stand, that means lightning is likely in a 10-mile radius and you must seek shelter.