Risk of deadly rip currents continues Sunday

Published 10:46 am Sunday, July 15, 2018

A high risk of deadly rip currents continues today, Sunday, July 15, for Outer Banks beaches.

As of 10:30 a.m., there are no red “no swimming’ flags flying. Yellow “dangerous current” flags are up in Kill Devil Hills, meaning there’s no formal restriction on swimming, but conditions are dangerous.

The National Weather Service issued a beach hazards statement this morning for all Outer Banks beaches, saying the most likely time for strong rip currents is one to two hours on either side of low tide, which occurs at 4 p.m. today.

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“Please visit your local lifeguard on the beach for the latest advisories and where to safely swim,” Corolla Beach Rescue wrote in a Facebook post. “Even when there are no red flags flying along Currituck beaches, all beach goers should remain aware of the inherent dangers when entering the surf including strong rip currents, swift longshore currents, pounding shore break and shallow sand bars.”

Six people have died in ocean-related fatalities this year on the Outer Banks, the latest on July 8 in Kill Devil Hills.

This week alone, first responders and good Samaritans have pulled dozens of people from the ocean. The Town of Nags Head said its lifeguards rescued 32 people from rip currents on Wednesday, July 11. And on Friday, a woman was pulled from the ocean unresponsive and four others rescued in Duck. Rescuers performed CPR on the woman, who was flown by helicopter to Norfolk. Her condition was unknown Sunday.

Text “Join OBXBeachConditions” to 30890 to sign up for text alerts from local Outer Banks lifeguards on the latest beach conditions.