Florida Surf Conditions
Rip current risk first, then surf height, buoy waves, wind and the next tides for ten stretches of Florida coast. Every number comes from the National Weather Service or NOAA.
Dot shows the highest NWS rip current risk in each region today: High Moderate Low No forecast
What the rip current risk levels mean
- High
- Life threatening rip currents are likely in the surf zone.
- Moderate
- Life threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone.
- Low
- The risk for rip currents is low, however, life threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins, jetties, reefs, and piers.
Risk definitions: National Weather Service rip current forecasts. Caught in a rip? Stay calm, do not swim against it, and swim parallel to the shore or float and signal for help.
How to read the numbers
- Surf height is the NWS forecast for breaking waves at the beach.
- Buoy waves are measured offshore and can be bigger or smaller than what reaches the sand. The buoy name says how far out it sits.
- Period is the time between waves. Under 8 seconds usually means short-period wind swell; 8 to 11 seconds is mid-period swell; 12 seconds or more is long-period swell with more energy behind each wave.
- Onshore wind blows from the sea toward the beach. Offshore wind blows from land out to sea. Cross-shore blows along the beach. This is worked out from the wind direction and the way that stretch of coast faces.
- Tide times are NOAA predictions for the station named, measured from mean lower low water (MLLW).
- Readings marked Stale are more than 3 hours old (buoys) or more than 24 hours old (forecasts).