Hurricane Erin will bring life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents across the East Coast this week. Here's what you need to know about the forecast and how to stay safe.

The entire East Coast is at risk of dangerous rip currents this week. The National Weather Service has issued a high risk of rip currents Wednesday and Thursday, stretching from Florida to New England.

What is a rip current?

A rip current is defined as a “powerful, narrow channel of fast-moving water that is prevalent along the East, Gulf and West coasts of the United States, as well as along the shores of the Great Lakes. Moving at speeds of up to eight feet per second, rip currents can move faster than an Olympic swimmer.”

Each year along the coast, thousands of water rescues occur because of beachgoers gett

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