CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) -- The National Weather Service is warning beachgoers of rip currents along the South Carolina coast.
Onshore winds and high tides from the new moon will mean a higher risk of rip currents on Thursday. The threat continues through the weekend at Hurricane Bill churns off the East Coast. pushing swells toward the shore.
Rip currents are narrow channels of water that will pull ocean swimmers from the beach. They claim more than 100 lives in the United States each year.
If caught in a rip current, swim along the shore. Then when you're free of the current, swim at an angle away from the current toward the beach. Experts say if you try to swim directly against a rip current, you may tire and drown.
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