A rip current is a narrow current that usually travels perpendicularly or at a sharp angle to the shoreline as it moves away from the shoreline and toward the ocean. Rip currents can be fast-moving and powerful, with speeds ranging from 1 to 2 feet per second to more than 8 feet per second in extreme cases. This rapid flow of water can quickly carry swimmers away from the shore and into deeper water.
These are two examples of rip currents: