Red flag: Rip current danger high for parts of NC coast

Red flags were posted on beaches in Nags Head Monday, a sign that swimming is prohibited because of the high threat of rip currents.

Posted 1:58 p.m. Jul 11, 2022 — Updated 4:03 p.m. Jul 12, 2022

NAGS HEAD, N.C. — Red flags were posted on beaches in Nags Head Monday, a sign that swimming is prohibited because of the high threat of rip currents.

The town of Nags Head announced the ban early Monday, noting that "swimming means any entry into the Atlantic Ocean, whether assisted by a raft, an inflatable device, or anything similar in nature."

Surfers are allowed, so long as they have a board made of fiberglass or foam that is at least five feet long with a leach.

On Tuesday, there was a still a high rip current danger between Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, which includes Ocracoke and parts of the Outer Banks. At the same time, the rest of the N.C. coast is under a moderate rip current risk.

"This time of year and anytime you're headed to the beaches to swim, you always want to check that," WRAL meteorologist Elizabeth Gardner said. "That forecast changes daily. So just check it and see how safe it is to swim at the beaches."