NWS hosts Rip Current Awareness Week at area beaches

SOUTHEASTERN NORTH CAROLINA (WECT) - The National Weather Service in Wilmington is hosting Rip Current Awareness Week at local area beaches this week.

The annual events give residents a chance to learn more about rip currents and other dangers they might encounter while at the beaches this summer.

Two people have drowned at area beaches so far this year. A man from Charlotte died on Mother's Day after he drowned on Carolina Beach. Another swimmer went missing at Carolina Beach over Memorial Day Weekend; his body washed up on Kure Beach.

Several other people were also rescued from rip currents that same weekend.

The first event will be held on Monday, June 6 at Johnnie Mercer's Pier in Wrightsville Beach from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A NWS meteorologist will be there along with local ocean rescue crews and North Carolina Sea Grant representatives to talk about rip current research, forecasting and beach safety.

A second event will take place on Monday afternoon at the Fort Fisher State Recreation Area from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to commemorate the North Carolina State Parks' 100th anniversary. In celebration, the NSW and NC Sea Grant will present a new bilingual sign addition to the park that shows beachgoers how to spot  and escape a rip current.

North Myrtle Beach will host an event as well on Tuesday, June 7th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

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