South Florida's beaches have seemed perfect for Spring Breakers and other vacationers this week, with sunny skies, breezy, balmy air and warm ocean temperatures.

But those alluring seascapes are misleading: Beneath the tumbling waves lurk rip currents that have kept lifeguards busy along the Atlantic coast, from Hollywood to Delray Beach and Pompano Beach in between.

Rip currents can travel 8 feet per second and exhaust even a strong swimmer, who could become trapped in them and carried out to sea, the National Weather Service says.

Since Sunday, the dangerous channels that flow perpendicular to the coast have been caused by winds blowing to shore from the east, said Chuck Caracozza, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami.

"Those east/southeast winds, at 15 to 20 mph, are expected to continue through the weekend," Caracozza said.

The rip current risk to swimmers will be high Friday, with calmer waters Saturday and a moderate risk that day, he said. Mostly sunny skies, with a 30 percent chance of showers Friday morning, should continue to draw bathers to beaches.

Pompano Beach reported 15 people, ages 6 to 69, have been rescued from rip currents since Sunday.

"If we get one rescue per day, that's a lot," said Sandra King, the city's spokeswoman. "Some swimmers were treated by fire rescue, some by the lifeguards. Others have found themselves caught in the current, called for help and were pulled ashore and have not needed any treatment."

Hallandale Beach saw one rip current rescue Tuesday and another Wednesday along its mile of guarded beach. Ocean Rescue Supervisor Joe Taylor attributed the low numbers to the city's awareness efforts.

"We post signs in front of the fixed currents for the day, and they explain what they are," Taylor said. "The education is helping because people are staying out of the area. Either they're here for the week and they know what they're doing, or have been told three days in a row, or other people tell the new beachgoers."

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Rip currents keeping lifeguards busy this week