A longshore current (aka ‘littoral current’) flows approximately parallel to the shore. Their direction is determined by both the prevailing wave direction and the shape of the sand below the water. The current ranges from fast flowing to barely noticeable. The intensity of the current is usually greater inside the surf zone.
The longshore current may produce a series of holes or gutters behind the waves breaking on the shore. They can pose a major hazard for unsuspecting swimmers, particularly small children. These currents generally feed into a rip current, which can then drag weaker swimmers out to sea. In these cases, they are commonly called ‘feeder’ currents.
