Rip Currents

Rip currents form when water piled up between the breaking waves and the beach returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow jet of water moving swiftly offshore, roughly perpendicular to the shoreline.

Rip Currents are powerful currents of water moving away from shore. They can sweep even the strongest swimmer out from shore.

Do not try to swim against the current. Rip currents often move faster than an olympic swimmer can swim. If you get caught in a rip current, you can either:

1. Swim perpendicular to the current until your out of the current, then swim towards shore at an angle away from the current, or
2. tread water and float with the current until it dissipates, and then swim back to the shore, at an angle way from the current.

Rip currents have been making the news in Lake Superior lately, and with good reason. In 2003, 21-year-old Matthew Rheaume died in a rip current while swimming along Minnesota Point, and there have been several other rip current rescues in 2003 and 2004. Nationwide, rip currents are responsible for more than 80 percent of lifeguard rescues and claim more than 100 lives each year, more than hurricanes, lightning, floods, and tornadoes. Their occurrence in the Great Lakes has been known for many years, but recent events have brought them to the forefront of our attention. Given the popularity, heavy use, and remoteness of many Lake Superior beaches it’s important for swimmers and recreationists to know how to identify rip currents and know how to get out of one if they get caught.

Rip currents are formed when waves break near the shoreline, piling up water between the breaking waves and the beach. One of the ways that this water returns to sea is to form a rip current, a narrow jet of water moving swiftly offshore, roughly perpendicular to the shoreline. Rip currents can be found on many surf beaches every day. Rip currents most typically form at low spots or breaks in sandbars, and also near structures such as groins, jetties and piers. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.

There are several visual clues to spotting rip currents: A break in the incoming wave pattern, a channel of churning, choppy water, a channel with a different water color, or foam or objects moving steadily away from shore.

In August 2008, the Duluth National Weather Service Office began issuing daily surf forecasts for Twin Ports Lake Superior beaches. The surf forecast will categorize the risk of rip currents for swimmers as low, moderate, or high, based on wind direction and speed, and wave height.

The surf forecast will also give specific wind, weather, and air temperature forecasts for area beaches. The Twin Ports was the first area on the Great Lakes to receive a surf forecast from the National Weather Service because local weather office personnel felt strongly about its importance. Other weather service offices in the Great Lakes will follow with their own surf forecasts in 2009.

Rip Currents Along Minnesota Point (“Park Point”)

There is no comprehensive analysis of where rip currents occur in Lake Superior. The most likely locations are Minnesota Point, due to the sandy beach, and along any piers, jetties, or other structures sticking out into the lake.

Rip currents often form either at breaks in a sand bar, or cause a break (or “rip”) in a sand bar. Looking at aerial photos of Minnesota Point shows that the lake bottom along the beach is not flat, but has many dips and trenches. While we cannot predict where rip currents will form, these low spots may be remnants of past rip currents or pre-formed channels that future rip currents can take advantage of.

In 2006, we surveyed local beach users about their knowledge and awareness of rip currents. See a newsletter story about the findings here.

Rip current sign, brochure and other graphics are available for free download and reproduction.

Recent Rip Currents Along Minnesota Point

August 13th, 2007:

• The Duluth News Tribune reported that a boy was caught in a rip current after 1 p.m., but was able to make it ashore unassisted.
• Beaches closed by the City of Duluth due to rip current danger. This is the third or fourth closure this summer.

August 4th, 2004:

• Beaches closed by City of Duluth due to rip current danger
• Around 2 PM, after the beaches were closed, several people (children and adults) were rescued from rip currents along Minnesota Point. Many stated they didn’t know the beaches had been closed.
• 14 mph winds recorded at NWS station on Miller Trunk Highway
• WDIO Reporter assists in rip rescue.

July 20th, 2004:

• Swimmer rescued from a rip current by firefighter near 1600 Minnesota Ave on Minnesota Point.
• 15 mph winds recorded at NWS station on Miller Trunk Highway

August 17th, 2003:

• 4-6 foot waves reported.
• Several swimmers rescued in several locations along Minnesota Point, including near Lafayette Square and 12th St.
• Matthew Rheaume drowned in a rip current. 14 mph winds recorded at NWS station on Miller Trunk Highway.
• Downlad a case study of this event. (840k PDF)
• “Rip Currents Hit Home” article from Seiche newsletter

Superior Science News Radio Program

Lake Superior Rip Currents (4:40) - Aired 8/5/08 and 8/7/08

4.3 MB mp3 | Stream | Transcript

Listening to the Lake Radio Program

Rip Currents (9:09) - Aired 6/1/05

10 MB mp3 | Stream | Transcript