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Smiling JOe

SoWal Expert

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.

Normal? We live in Florida and it&#039;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&#039;s. Today, temps were maybe a mild 85F degrees, with a nice breeze, feeling more like fall.

mikecat adjuster

Beach Fanatic

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.

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 &#039;get you&#039;. Walking trails, shopping, surfing, throwing frisbee. I&#039;m sure you&#039;ll find ways to smile and enjoy yourself.

cshorty

Beach Comber

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

Beach Lover

[quote="cshorty, post: 584057"]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.[/quote]
 
It can change daily.  Go to [URL="http://www.swfd.org"]www.swfd.org[/URL] and check out surf conditions and flag status.  It is updated twice a day.
 
Good luck

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="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.</blockquote> 
It can change daily. Go to <a href="http://www.swfd.org" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">www.swfd.org</a> and check out surf conditions and flag status. It is updated twice a day. 
 
Good luck

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 ([url=http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com]Northwest Florida Beach Vacation Guide - Beaches of South Walton[/url]) 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.

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 (<a href="http://www.beachesofsouthwalton.com" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">Northwest Florida Beach Vacation Guide - Beaches of South Walton</a>) 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.

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.

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 &quot;Jaws&quot; to many times. we dont venture out to far, but we love it anyway.

GoodWitch58

[quote="cshorty, post: 584088"]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.[/quote]

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!

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="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 &quot;Jaws&quot; to many times. we dont venture out to far, but we love it anyway.</blockquote> 
As Smiling Joe says, obey the flags...and educate yourself on the rip currents. One does not have to get &quot;too far&quot; 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

[quote="cshorty, post: 584075"]Sounds great! This is our first time to sowal, we have been to fort meyers area several times. [B]No surf there at all.  Kids are excited to see something different. [/B]We are coming from MO. supposed to be in upper ninetys here next week.[/quote]
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.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="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.</blockquote>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.

[quote="cshorty, post: 584057"]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.[/quote]
 
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.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="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.</blockquote> 
Please make sure to educate yourself about riptides. I don&#039;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&#039;t cooperate with your plans to go in the water.

lerxst

[b]rip[/b]

On july 4th some friends and I (visitors from out of state) were enjoying a day at the beach. We were just to the east of one seagrove place. I had been in the water a few times to cool off and noticed that the last time I was in, a rip had developed right where we were entering the water. It was clearly visible but not very long in duration nor was it in deep water, but it was very strong. A lifeguard who was patrolling the beach on a 4 wheeler stopped by our set-ups and just looked out into the water for a while and then started talking to people and eventually went in and informed them that they were wading in a rip current.
rip currents can often be spotted if you know what to look for. Look for areas of turbulent/choppy water between waves which looks different than the normal pattern and places where small waves converge and cross paths at angles.
be safe and
enjoy the water.

rip 
 
On july 4th some friends and I (visitors from out of state) were enjoying a day at the beach. We were just to the east of one seagrove place. I had been in the water a few times to cool off and noticed that the last time I was in, a rip had developed right where we were entering the water. It was clearly visible but not very long in duration nor was it in deep water, but it was very strong. A lifeguard who was patrolling the beach on a 4 wheeler stopped by our set-ups and just looked out into the water for a while and then started talking to people and eventually went in and informed them that they were wading in a rip current. 
rip currents can often be spotted if you know what to look for. Look for areas of turbulent/choppy water between waves which looks different than the normal pattern and places where small waves converge and cross paths at angles. 
be safe and 
enjoy the water.

there is alot of info at [URL="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ripcurrents/characteristics/images/rip%2520characteristics%2520image%25205%2520labeled.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ripcurrents/characteristics/&usg=__s-Mxj9Pi5iUm6qIhW3gqxrTyMuQ=&h=280&w=375&sz=25&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=EtEkrLvuWu_WfM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drip%2Bcurrents%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1"]THIS SITE[/URL]. .  example of how deceiving they can be......
[IMG]http://www.tintagelslsc.co.uk/Assets/Images/rip1.jpg[/IMG]

alot of people make the mistake of going into the water right where that calm spot is..... can be a fatal mistake.

there is alot of info at <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ripcurrents/characteristics/images/rip%2520characteristics%2520image%25205%2520labeled.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ripcurrents/characteristics/&amp;usg=__s-Mxj9Pi5iUm6qIhW3gqxrTyMuQ=&amp;h=280&amp;w=375&amp;sz=25&amp;hl=en&amp;start=7&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=EtEkrLvuWu_WfM:&amp;tbnh=91&amp;tbnw=122&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Drip%2Bcurrents%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">THIS SITE</a>. . example of how deceiving they can be...... 
<img src="http://www.tintagelslsc.co.uk/Assets/Images/rip1.jpg" alt="" /> 
 
alot of people make the mistake of going into the water right where that calm spot is..... can be a fatal mistake.

You are right that rip currents can be very deceiving, appearing to be calmer water than the waves coming in next to them.  "Know, before you go."

You are right that rip currents can be very deceiving, appearing to be calmer water than the waves coming in next to them.  &quot;Know, before you go.&quot;

[quote="Smiling JOe, post: 584199"]You are right that rip currents can be very deceiving, appearing to be calmer water than the waves coming in next to them. "Know, before you go."[/quote]
 
 
Good call,  and for the record these Rips are currents and not tides.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Smiling JOe">You are right that rip currents can be very deceiving, appearing to be calmer water than the waves coming in next to them. &quot;Know, before you go.&quot;</blockquote> 
 
Good call, and for the record these Rips are currents and not tides.

Gidget

[quote="mikecatadjuster, post: 584072"]
 
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.[/quote]

:chill:

Great attitude!  Gotta make the most of it. 

 Kinda hard it you are only going to be around for a few days though - I would get bummed when water conditions weren't IDEAL when I came on vacation.  But, we did as you just mentioned - made the best of it!

G

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="mikecatadjuster">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 &#039;get you&#039;. Walking trails, shopping, surfing, throwing frisbee. I&#039;m sure you&#039;ll find ways to smile and enjoy yourself.</blockquote> 
:chill: 
 
Great attitude! Gotta make the most of it. 
 
 Kinda hard it you are only going to be around for a few days though - I would get bummed when water conditions weren&#039;t IDEAL when I came on vacation. But, we did as you just mentioned - made the best of it! 
 
G

[quote="jodiFL, post: 584195"]there is alot of info at [URL="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ripcurrents/characteristics/images/rip%2520characteristics%2520image%25205%2520labeled.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ripcurrents/characteristics/&usg=__s-Mxj9Pi5iUm6qIhW3gqxrTyMuQ=&h=280&w=375&sz=25&hl=en&start=7&um=1&tbnid=EtEkrLvuWu_WfM:&tbnh=91&tbnw=122&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drip%2Bcurrents%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1"]THIS SITE[/URL]. .  example of how deceiving they can be......
[IMG]http://www.tintagelslsc.co.uk/Assets/Images/rip1.jpg[/IMG]

alot of people make the mistake of going into the water right where that calm spot is..... can be a fatal mistake.[/quote]

Thanks so much for the info!  I am learning a lot!  I love to swim in the gulf and knock on wood, haven't gotten in a rip current yet, but I almost wish I could "on purpose" (small one with supervision)  just to try out my skills at swimming parallel, etc... and to keep my head.

G

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="jodiFL">there is alot of info at <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ripcurrents/characteristics/images/rip%2520characteristics%2520image%25205%2520labeled.jpg&amp;imgrefurl=http://www.ocean.udel.edu/ripcurrents/characteristics/&amp;usg=__s-Mxj9Pi5iUm6qIhW3gqxrTyMuQ=&amp;h=280&amp;w=375&amp;sz=25&amp;hl=en&amp;start=7&amp;um=1&amp;tbnid=EtEkrLvuWu_WfM:&amp;tbnh=91&amp;tbnw=122&amp;prev=/images%3Fq%3Drip%2Bcurrents%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">THIS SITE</a>. . example of how deceiving they can be...... 
<img src="http://www.tintagelslsc.co.uk/Assets/Images/rip1.jpg" alt="" /> 
 
alot of people make the mistake of going into the water right where that calm spot is..... can be a fatal mistake.</blockquote> 
Thanks so much for the info! I am learning a lot! I love to swim in the gulf and knock on wood, haven&#039;t gotten in a rip current yet, but I almost wish I could &quot;on purpose&quot; (small one with supervision) just to try out my skills at swimming parallel, etc... and to keep my head. 
 
G

scooterbug44

Thanks to the outfalls/coastal dune lakes/state parks, there is no reason to not be able to still "go in some water" when it's a red flag day.

NO reason to risk your life in the gulf when with just a little extra effort you can still be safely kayaking, swimming, playing in salty water etc. w/ an ocean view.

Thanks to the outfalls/coastal dune lakes/state parks, there is no reason to not be able to still &quot;go in some water&quot; when it&#039;s a red flag day. 
 
NO reason to risk your life in the gulf when with just a little extra effort you can still be safely kayaking, swimming, playing in salty water etc. w/ an ocean view.

[quote="Gidget, post: 584223"]Thanks so much for the info!  I am learning a lot!  I love to swim in the gulf and knock on wood, haven't gotten in a rip current yet, but I almost wish I could "on purpose" (small one with supervision)  just to try out my skills at swimming parallel, etc... and to keep my head.

G[/quote]
wear a lifejacket if you are going to try it. we don't need to be reading about you in the papers. Often, the one who drowns is the person or people who go in to the water to try and rescue someone in distress. It would be terrible if that happened while you were "testing your skills."

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Gidget">Thanks so much for the info! I am learning a lot! I love to swim in the gulf and knock on wood, haven&#039;t gotten in a rip current yet, but I almost wish I could &quot;on purpose&quot; (small one with supervision) just to try out my skills at swimming parallel, etc... and to keep my head. 
 
G</blockquote>wear a lifejacket if you are going to try it. we don&#039;t need to be reading about you in the papers. Often, the one who drowns is the person or people who go in to the water to try and rescue someone in distress. It would be terrible if that happened while you were &quot;testing your skills.&quot;

Matt J

SWGB

We usually get rougher water during full moons.  As it fades it should be a little calmer.

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.

red flag

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