A retreating tide advisory was issued by the National Weather Service at 3:17 a.m. Thursday for Monmouth and Ocean counties, effective from 4 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

“Dangerous retreating currents are expected,” the weather service added.

“Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” the weather service explains. “Never swim on an unprotected beach. If you are caught in a rip current, relax and swim. Don’t swim against the current. If you can, swim in a direction that follows the shoreline. If you can’t escape, return to shore and call or wave for help.”

What should you do if you get caught in a rip current?

Rip currents are channeled currents of water that flow away from shore on surf beaches. Their speed can change rapidly and can become dangerous to anyone entering the surf. Rip currents can sweep even the strongest swimmer away from shore. Trying to swim against a rip current will only drain your energy—the energy you need to survive and escape the rip current. If you are caught in a rip current, try to stay calm and follow the following advice from the weather service:

Calm down, they won’t be able to pull you down:

Your first rule: Keep an open mind. Tides won’t pull you under the surface of the water. Panic is your enemy; it saps you of the precious energy you need to survive.

Do not swim against the current:

Do not swim towards the shore against the rip current. Instead, swim parallel to the shore and out of the rip current.

Signal for help if necessary:

If you can’t reach shore, try to relax. Return to shore, wade in the water, and signal for help by shouting or waving your arms. This increases your visibility to potential rescuers.

For added safety, choose beaches with lifeguards:

Whenever possible, choose beaches with lifeguards on duty. Their trained eyes and quick reactions can be lifesaving in a water emergency.

Never swim alone on unprotected beaches:

If you choose to swim at beaches without lifeguards, never swim alone. Take a friend with you and ask that person to get their cell phone so they can call 911 for help.

Rip currents are a formidable force of nature, but knowing how to react can significantly increase your chances of navigating these challenging waters safely. Be knowledgeable, alert, and prioritize safety when enjoying the surf.

Enhanced Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots that uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.