EMERALD ISLE, NC (WITN) The high risk for dangerous rip currents will continue into Saturday for all of our beaches.

The National Weather Service warns that the surf remains dangerous for all swimmers, no matter how experienced they are.

On Friday, red flags were flying at Emerald Isle and Pine Knoll Shores, while Atlantic Beach wss flying yellow warning flags.

This past weekend, two Wayne County teens got caught in dangerous rips at Emerald Isle. One boy drowned, while the other was critically injured.

The high risk area is from North Topsail Beach in Onslow County to Duck in Dare County.

Meteorologists say the worst time for rip currents on Friday will be a couple hours before or after high tide, which is around 7:00 p.m.

On Thursday, life guards at Emerald Isle rescued 13 people, bringing the number to 25 for the week just in that beach town.

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Emerald Isle lifeguards say this summer is shaping up to be one of their busiest in recent years with 13 more rescues of swimmers from rip currents Thursday.

That brings the total number of rescues this week at Emerald Isle to 25.

One person drowned while another was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Those rescued Thursday are all said to be fine.

Jordan East says this is her 6th year as a lifeguard at Emerald Isle and is starting out as the busiest.

Jordan says, "I think most of the time people come down here they see our flags they see the water, they don't really know how to recognize it and we try our best to educate the public."

Other Crystal Coast beaches have had a number of rescues as well. Atlantic Beach has had 14 rescues in the past three weeks. Salter Path has had 5 rescues and 10 distress calls, and North Topsail Beach has had 4 distress calls. Distress calls mean emergency crews were called to the beach for someone who may have been panicking out in the ocean, but no one had to be pulled from the water.

Lifeguards advise you swim at beaches where there are lifeguards, and say if you get caught in a rip, swim parallel to shore until you are out of it.

The rip current risk along the coast remains in the moderate range.

See the article here:

Reg flags up as high rip current risk for all beaches today - WITN