Full moon spring tide warning

NSRI are urging extreme caution around the coast this week.

The full moon spring tide peaks tomorrow and this being the third super moon in a row, very strong rip currents are predicted to be present around the coast over the next seven days.

Spring Tide happens twice every month, at full moon and at new moon.

Spring Tides bring a higher than normal high tide and a lower than normal low tide, causing stronger than normal rip currents, for a few days leading up to the full moon or new moon, peaking on the day of the full moon or new moon and lasting for a few days after the full moon or new moon.

There are two high tides and two low tides every day. During Spring Tide the twice daily high tides are higher than normal and the twice daily low tides are lower than normal and while rip currents are always present the Spring Tide creates stronger than normal rip currents.

Rip Currents are caused when the water reaching the shoreline in waves, swells and sea currents needs to find a way to retreat back into the sea and this is achieved in rip currents (a river of water retreating through the incoming swells back out into the sea).

Bathers are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents while swimming or wading in water along the beach front. Even bathers wading in shallow water who find themselves trapped in a rip current that forms suddenly are at risk of being swept out to sea by rip currents.

Bathers caught in a rip current should not panic.

Contact the National Sea Rescue Institute Station 19 (Richards Bay) 035 7351991.