Rip Current Statement for St. George Island & FL Panhandle Beaches
… HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TALLAHASSEE HAS ISSUED A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK… WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.
* TIMING… TODAY AND SATURDAY.
* IMPACTS… LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS LIKELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.
RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY FROM SHORE… WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS… JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS… BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND SIGNS.
IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT… YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN CALM… DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT… SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.
The Calm After the Storm
I had a swim at THPSP. The water was nice, although a bit stirred up from the storm last night. There were a few random pieces of June grass that I’d rate a 1 or less. Sorry: no pics I was too busy swimming! There is presently a cool current running right along the beach but I waded out up to my neck and the water warmed up. I hope it stays nice for the weekend! The yellow flies and mosquitoes are biting but they’re not on the beach.
Heat Advisory in Effect
Issued by The National Weather Service
Tallahassee, FL
Tue, Jun 23, 10:58 am CDT
… HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT /5 PM CDT/ THIS EVENING…
* TEMPERATURE… GENERALLY BETWEEN 95 TO 99 DEGREES.
* MAXIMUM HEAT INDEX… GENERALLY BETWEEN 107 AND 112 DEGREES.
* IMPACTS… HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES COULD CREATE HEAT ILLNESSES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITIES CREATES HEAT INDICES OF 109 UP TO 112 DEGREES. HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES CAN CREATE DANGEROUSLY HOT CONDITIONS WHERE INDIVIDUALS MAY BECOME CRITICALLY EXHAUSTED IF OUTDOORS. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS… STAY IN AN AIR-CONDITIONING IF POSSIBLE… REMAIN OUT OF THE SUN… AND CHECK ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS WHO MAY BE SENSITIVE TO HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES. TAKE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS IF YOU WORK OR SPEND TIME OUTSIDE. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY… CALL 911
Clear water in Miramar Beach
Thanks to Deon for sending in this great pic & report!
“This photo was taken around 9:00 am at Miramar Beach (right by Joe Pompano’s) Temp was around 85 and winds were gentle today. Super clear water! My weather app says its coming from the SW. We’re visiting from the Texas and love it here so far! Thank you for putting together this website, it has been very informative!”
Quick Update
I went to the beach at THPSP last night. Flags were yellow and purple, but I didn’t see any jellies and I haven’t heard anything about more sharks than usual in the area. I have no idea what the purple flag was for. I tried boogie boarding but it was a bit too rough for me. If the waves are still coming in I recommend that adults use good judgment in the water but keep the kiddos at less than knee deep. I saw absolutely no June grass so let’s hope it stays that way for the weekend! There’s a bit of sargassum but nothing gross or annoying. Have a fun beach weekend!
Rip Current Statement in effect until 7am Sunday
Please read the rip current statement in the last post. It remains in effect until 7am Sunday. Please don’t go in the water: your life is worth more than the price of your vacation.
Rip Current Statement in Effect
Sorry, I should have posted this earlier:
Until 7am CDT, Sat, Jun 13
Issued by The National Weather Service
Tallahassee, FL
Fri, Jun 12, 10:59 am CDT
… HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING…
* TIMING… THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING.
* IMPACTS… LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS LIKELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.
RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY FROM SHORE… WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS GROINS… JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS… BEACH PATROL FLAGS AND SIGNS.
IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT… YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN CALM… DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT… SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.
THPSP
I had a quick look around the beach at sunset and soaked my feet for a bit. There are no dead fish here. The Gulf is very warm. The wind has shifted to the south and kicked up the waves a bit but there actually seems to be less June grass than yesterday midday. I’m rating it a 2-3 on the Grossness Index, down from up to a 4 yesterday. There are TONS of mole crabs in the surf, so don’t bother buying bait if you come to fish. I heard a man say he caught a couple of whiting Saturday.
Live from Destin
Thank you Clay for sending in this report and pic:
“I have been here at El Matador at the end of Okaloosa Island since Saturday. A little algae and some grass out in the water but nothing to complain about. In my opinion you would have to go too far to be safe to get to the bulk of it. My grossness scale would be “0”. As far as the fish kill, there are dead fish. At first i thought it was some left over bait a fisherman discarded but soon realized i was wrong. Its not like they are all over the place but they are here. Nothing too bad though.”
Fish Kill on Okaloosa Island
I keep getting reports that there is June grass and a fish kill on Okaloosa Island. If anybody has pics (just for confirmation, dead fish are gross) please send them in. I haven’t been to the Sowal beaches today. Yesterday there was a bit of June grass but not a day ruiner. There are green flags again today, so hopefully somebody will confirm that it’s still fairly nice here. I also keep getting reports that Pensacola is nice and grass-free. Please check the POST BEACH CONDITIONS HERE! link for the most current reports from the beach.
The June Grass Report 