We’ve got some rough ocean this week due to storms out at sea. Throughout the summer, the lifeguards on the Outer Banks employ flags to warn beach goers of conditions.

Here are a few things to know about flags:

- Some Outer Banks town lifeguards will give you a warning if you disobey the red flag/ no swimming rule. Others will just ticket and fine you with no warning. Best to just stay out of the water.

- It doesn’t always look rough to be dangerous. If the flags are flying, the lifeguards have good reason.

- No swimming actually means don’t even wade in the water. Even strong adults can be swept over by a strong wave.

- Yellow flags placed directly on the beach indicate that there is a moderate risk for rip currents in that location. Stay away from these areas.

- The exception to the red flag rule for swimmers is surfers. This exception is intended for experienced surfers and bodyboarders. Please don’t rent a board for an inexperienced surfer just to get in the water. These local guys and gals you see on boards out there were raised here. They know what they are doing on big Outer Banks waves. (and even then, their wives and mammas get nervous, speaking personally.)

-If it’s before 9 am or after 6 pm, the guards might not have the flags out. So it's possible you could be swimming in dangerous conditions and not know it.

There’s plenty of other things to do until conditions improve! Go to the soundside of the island- the water is likely more calm, play games on the beach, build a sandcastle, go for a hike, climb a lighthouse or take an airplane tour of the OBX- the ocean angry is an awesome sight from high above!