Rip tide

This article is about currents caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet. For currents appearing near beaches, see Rip current. For other uses, see Riptide (disambiguation).

A rip tide, or riptide, is a strong offshore current that is caused by the tide pulling water through an inlet along a barrier beach, at a lagoon or inland marina where tide water flows steadily out to sea during ebb tide. It is a strong tidal flow of water within estuaries and other enclosed tidal areas. The riptides become the strongest where the flow is constricted. When there is a falling or ebbing tide, the outflow water is strongly flowing through an inlet toward the sea, especially once stabilised by jetties.[1]

  1. ^ SurferToday (2024). "The differences between rip currents, undertows and rip tides". Retrieved 3 January 2024.