Ocean City officials are warning of high rip current risks this weekend, advising beachgoers to exercise caution and swim only when lifeguards are on duty.

Capt. Butch Arbin of Ocean City Beach Patrol spoke with WBAL’s Phil Yacuboski. He said to be vigilant if you’re going into the ocean.

“We have rough surf and a lot of bigger waves being pushed in and we have a really, really strong north current,” Arbin said. “But as that current dies down, the current becomes much, much more.”

Arbin said to remember the acronym “RIP”: relax, let people know I need help and swim parallel to the shoreline.

“Only swim when we are on duty,” Arbin said. “Ninety-eight percent of all of the drownings that occur, occur on unguarded beaches.”

Lifeguards are on Ocean City beaches between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.

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