With summer in our rear-view mirror, it’s easy to get a little too relaxed when we had to the beach for fun in the surf. It’s the season for tropical disturbances to meander around in the Gulf. They may be far away and pose no threat to Alabama’s beautiful coast, but they can cause significant rip currents on our coast that sometimes aren’t visible. The best way to make sure the water is safe is to observe the beach warning flags. https://cleanisland.org/beach-usage/
For a little refresher, this is what the different colors mean:
- A yellow flag is medium hazard indicating moderate surf and/or currents
- A red flag is high hazard indicating high surf and/or strong currents
- A double red flag means the water is closed to the public.
- A purple flag indicates dangerous marine life (usually jellyfish)
If you want to know before you head to the beach, you can call for surf conditions in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach. The numbers are 251-968-TIDE (8433) or 251-981-SURF (7873).