According to the National Climatic Data Center, the average death toll from various severe weather phenomenon in the United States between 1988 and 2003 ranked like this:
1. Heat 157 fatalities
2. Flooding 83 fatalities
3. Lightning 56 fatalities
4. Tornadoes 53 fatalities
5. Winter Storms 49 fatalities
6. Cold 29 fatalities
7. Hurricanes 17 fatalities
One serious weather related killer is not listed in this ranking. If you are heading to the beach this week, or anytime soon, you need to know about it. It is rip currents. NOAA estimates that 100 people lose their lives on average due to drowning from rip currents each year.
A rip current is defined as a small scale, surf zone current that flows away from the beach. They occur when waves that are driving shoreward trap water between the beach and a sand bar. When a break occurs in the sand bar, the trapper water rushes out through the neck of the rip current. This water can move at speeds of 5 mph, which is frightening to an inexperienced swimmer caught in the current. The neck can be 30 to 100 yards. Once the neck ends, the water spreads out into an area called the head. Swimmers get in trouble when then fight the current or panic when they find themselves far offshore. All weekend, we will examine what to do if you encounter a rip current.
1. Heat 157 fatalities
2. Flooding 83 fatalities
3. Lightning 56 fatalities
4. Tornadoes 53 fatalities
5. Winter Storms 49 fatalities
6. Cold 29 fatalities
7. Hurricanes 17 fatalities
One serious weather related killer is not listed in this ranking. If you are heading to the beach this week, or anytime soon, you need to know about it. It is rip currents. NOAA estimates that 100 people lose their lives on average due to drowning from rip currents each year.
A rip current is defined as a small scale, surf zone current that flows away from the beach. They occur when waves that are driving shoreward trap water between the beach and a sand bar. When a break occurs in the sand bar, the trapper water rushes out through the neck of the rip current. This water can move at speeds of 5 mph, which is frightening to an inexperienced swimmer caught in the current. The neck can be 30 to 100 yards. Once the neck ends, the water spreads out into an area called the head. Swimmers get in trouble when then fight the current or panic when they find themselves far offshore. All weekend, we will examine what to do if you encounter a rip current.