More than 40 people rescued from rip currents at NC coast over the weekend

More than 40 people had to be rescued from rip currents along the North Carolina coast Saturday and Sunday.

The National Weather Service in Wilmington reported 41 rip current rescues at Wrightsville, Carolina and Kure beaches this past weekend. Of those rescues, 33 were at Wrightsville Beach.

On Saturday, there were at least 29 rip current rescues at the coast – with 23 of those rescues at Wrightsville Beach alone.

Ernesto is continuing to cause a high risk of rip currents along the North Carolina coastline as we kick off a new week.

Due to Ernesto's proximity, high rip current risks persisted along our coast throughout the weekend.

North Carolina has an average of eight fatalities due to rip currents each year. So far this year, there have been five. All five deaths were in July. Four were in North Carolina and one was in South Carolina.

From 2000 to 2023, North Carolina and South Carolina had 184 rip current drownings. It is the No. 1 weather-related killer along the Carolina coast.

If you're ever caught in a rip current, remember to stay calm and follow these steps. As the rip current continues to pull you away from the shore, you must swim. Always swim parallel to shore – never swim against the current. Think of it like a treadmill that can't be turned off; you need to step to the side.

If you are unable to swim out of the rip current, float or calmly tread water. When out of the current, swim towards shore.