red flag

[cshorty]

Hello everyone! I have been watching the surf conditions the past few days and they have been red flag days. Is this normal? We are coming down this weekend with a nine year old and three teenagers.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Normal? We live in Florida and it's hurricane season. In 2005 (i think), we had a Tropical Storm or Hurricane which came close to SoWal a couple days after July 4th. It can be crazy this time of year, and it can also be very calm. Hit or miss. Last week, we had temps in the upper 90's. Today, temps were maybe a mild 85F degrees, with a nice breeze, feeling more like fall.

 

[mikecat adjuster]

July 3rd we had red flags, but the water was still very pretty. The 4th saw yellow flags and the 5th regained the red status that we still have.

It definately fluctuates. Prior to this though we had numerous consecutive days with green and yellow flags, very calm and inviting conditions. Nature is at the helm though. Good luck.

Btw, plan for alternatives. I guess making sand castles on red flag days, running in and out of the oncoming waves up on the shore, trying not to let them 'get you'. Walking trails, shopping, surfing, throwing frisbee. I'm sure you'll find ways to smile and enjoy yourself.

 

[cshorty]

Sounds great! This is our first time to sowal, we have been to fort meyers area several times. No surf there at all. Kids are excited to see something different. We are coming from MO. supposed to be in upper ninetys here next week.

 

[enfuego]

Hello everyone! I have been watching the surf conditions the past few days and they have been red flag days. Is this normal? We are coming down this weekend with a nine year old and three teenagers.

It can change daily. Go to www.swfd.org and check out surf conditions and flag status. It is updated twice a day.

Good luck

 

[Smiling JOe]

Obey the flags. The flags are posted throughout the county beaches, based on the worst conditions present, so while it may look like a yellow flag day in one spot, the red flag may be flying, and conditions in that particular area could quickly change. Take a moment to go to the TDC website (Northwest Florida Beach Vacation Guide - Beaches of South Walton) and teach your kids and your spouse, about the flag system and the importance of obeying the system. Also, teach them how to escape rip currents in case they do ever get into trouble.

Enjoy your vacation.

 

[cshorty]

Thanks, you can bet i will be watching the flags. We are all kind of cowards when it comes to the water, I think i watched "Jaws" to many times. we dont venture out to far, but we love it anyway.

 

[GoodWitch58]

Thanks, you can bet i will be watching the flags. We are all kind of cowards when it comes to the water, I think i watched "Jaws" to many times. we dont venture out to far, but we love it anyway.

As Smiling Joe says, obey the flags...and educate yourself on the rip currents. One does not have to get "too far" to have a problem, under certain conditions. Know what to do if you get taken by a rip current...

Enjoy your vacation and come back often!

 

[jodiFL]

Sounds great! This is our first time to sowal, we have been to fort meyers area several times. No surf there at all. Kids are excited to see something different. We are coming from MO. supposed to be in upper ninetys here next week.

Just to let you know that Red Flag conditions here dont necessarily mean high surf. We rarely get high surf here either. The most common reason for Red Flag warnings here is for riptides.

 

[ASH]

Hello everyone! I have been watching the surf conditions the past few days and they have been red flag days. Is this normal? We are coming down this weekend with a nine year old and three teenagers.

Please make sure to educate yourself about riptides. I don't know if you follow the local news here, but someone drowned last weekend from riptide and many more had to be rescued. It is no joke to take lightly. Depending on where you stay, there are likely dune lakes nearby if the ocean doesn't cooperate with your plans to go in the water.