Rip currents and other surf conditions can pose danger at lakes, too
CNN
Summer is here and millions of people are flocking to beaches all across the country. But even on a seemingly beautiful weather day, a hidden danger can lie just under the surface: rip currents, high surf or sneaker waves -- collectively known as surf zone incidents.
Not all of these occur in the ocean. Dozens of people die each year at American lakes. A rip current is defined by the National Weather Service as "a relatively small-scale surf-zone current moving away from the beach. Rip currents form as waves disperse along the beach causing water to become trapped between the beach and a sandbar or other underwater feature. The water converges into a narrow, river-like channel moving away from the shore at high speed."More Related News