The Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation has issued a reminder to residents and visitors along the shoreline to be aware of rip currents during the summer.
Coastal Resources Manager Geoff Peach explains rip currents are caused by strong waves being pushed to the shore. They essentially bounce off the beach and back into the lake.
If the water flow finds a break in a sand bar, it rushes through, creating a rip current. That powerful current flows at 90 degrees from the shoreline back out to the lake.
The worst thing a swimmer can do is to try to swim against the current, creating panic and fatigue.
Peach suggests swimming parallel with the shoreline until you're out of the current and then finding your way back to shore. An alternative is floating on your back with the current until it loses its energy and then finding your way back to shore.
Peach adds rip currents are also often found near piers or jetties.
