National Weather Service issues rip current advisory
The National Weather Service in Wilmington, N.C. has issued a high rip tide advisory for beach areas along the coastal Carolinas.
The advisory is in effect from 8 a.m. Friday and into Friday evening and is specifically issued for Brunswick, N.C., Pender, N.C., New Hanover, N.C., Horry, and Georgetown counties, according to the weather service.
A strong easterly swell combined with a new moon will generate enough energy to create strong rip currents, weather service officials said.
The best time for the rip conditions will be an hour or two either side of low tide, which should occur about 1 p.m.
Rip currents could be life-threatening the in the surf zone, according to weather service officials.
Rip currents are powerful channels of water, flowing away quickly from the shore, and they usually happen in low spots or breaks in sandbars.
Weather service officials advise swimmers to yell for help and stay calm while waiting for assistance. Officials warn swimmers should not exhaust themselves if they become caught in a rip current.
Contact ELIZABETH TOWNSEND at 626-0217 or on Twitter @TSN_etownsend.
This story was originally published April 17, 2015 at 7:32 AM with the headline "National Weather Service issues rip current advisory."