Hurricane Larry to bring rip current threat to NC beaches

At the beach for the holiday? Swells from the distant Hurricane Larry will lead to an enhanced risk for life-threatening rip currents and rough surf this week up and down the North Carolina coast.

Rip currents: Safety tips and what to know

Watch this video to learn what to do if you're ever caught in a rip current.

The storm isn't expected to make landfall in the United States, but it will be powerful enough to be felt along the East Coast.

The weather service says Outer Banks beaches from Pea Island down to Cape Lookout will experience a high rip current risk.

That means powerful and numerous rip currents are expected and everyone should stay out of the water.

Moderate rip currents are expected from Duck through Nags Head and from Shackleford Banks through North Topsail Beach. That means only experienced swimmers who know how to escape a rip current should enter the water.

If you get caught in a rip current, do not try to swim back to shore or panic. These two actions will only cause you to get tired more quickly, which increases the danger.

Instead, swim parallel to the shore. If you are too tired to swim parallel, you can try calmly floating until the current dies down, or you can wave and yell to try to get the attention of a lifeguard.