Rip Current Forecast Info and Red Flags

[lenzoe]

Does anyone know where Walton county get its rip current forecast info? They have been flying red flags for the last three days and warning of a high rip current risk. PCB has been flying yellow the whole time. Okaloosa was red two of those days but today they've gone to yellow along with PCB while Walton is still red. Over the same time frame the National Weather Service has put out moderate rip current risk forecasts each day for the whole stretch from the big bend to Alabama.

So, I'm just curious what sources of info Walton county uses for its rip current forecasts, and how it differs from its neighbors. Do they have other forecast sources? Do they take additional local input from the lifeguards?

 

[Kurt]

The flags are determined by eyes on the shore, and weather and wave forecasts. It takes experience, and always tends toward being more cautious. Also, red flags may be warranted on just a certain section of beach. Could be red flag conditions on one end of the county and yellow on the other end. But the most dangerous conditions sets the flag status for the whole county.

Each county has its own procedures.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Here's more info for Walton County... http://www.swfd.org/beach.php

It is managed by the South Walton Fire District.

 

[lenzoe]

Thanks, I appreciate the response.

I was curious if they had more localized forecast data for rip currents. For example, I noticed that surfline.com has pretty detailed spot forecasts for surf conditions -- even including Blue Mountain Beach, Grayton, and Bud & Alleys as selectable forecast spots. I haven't seen the same thing for rip currents, though.

 

[jeanne17]

I wish there was a place online to get actual, real, current beach flag conditions. Because looking at the flags isn't accurate (in Bay County, anyway). We have a condo at Pinnacle Port and I always have to call the beach patrol to find out what the flags *really* are. Apparently (this is what I was told - in Bay county anyway), beach patrol controls the flags - our HOA doesn't anymore. It takes a while for them to get up and down the beach.

Thing is, I have friends that live off beach and they've complained about the same thing (not having an online source). Hard to plan a beach day if you can't actually *see* the flags. But then, even if you can see the flags, that doesn't mean they are current. Thing is, it would be nice if their website just listed the current condition. Or their FB page!

 

[Kurt]

I wish there was a place online to get actual, real, current beach flag conditions. Because looking at the flags isn't accurate (in Bay County, anyway). We have a condo at Pinnacle Port and I always have to call the beach patrol to find out what the flags *really* are. Apparently (this is what I was told - in Bay county anyway), beach patrol controls the flags - our HOA doesn't anymore. It takes a while for them to get up and down the beach.

Thing is, I have friends that live off beach and they've complained about the same thing (not having an online source). Hard to plan a beach day if you can't actually *see* the flags. But then, even if you can see the flags, that doesn't mean they are current. Thing is, it would be nice if their website just listed the current condition. Or their FB page!

The SWFD website has the current flag conditions http://www.swfd.org/beach.php
However it isn't updated minute by minute, if that's what you mean.

Two of our beachcams have flags in view:
http://www.sowal.com/webcam/grayton-beachcam
http://www.sowal.com/webcam/seagrove-beachcam-at-walton-dunes

 

[lenzoe]

I've said before, Walton County gets high marks for making the flag warning conditions easily findable online. There are several websites, the beach cams as Kurt points out above, and you can even get text messages with the current status.

For Bay county the only site I've found is Mr. Surf's website: http://www.mrsurfs.com/surf_report.php
which is a commercial/retail site and from what I can tell not official.

For Okaloosa you have to navigate to their facebook page which posts it daily.

 

[jeanne17]

The SWFD website has the current flag conditions http://www.swfd.org/beach.php
However it isn't updated minute by minute, if that's what you mean.

Two of our beachcams have flags in view:
http://www.sowal.com/webcam/grayton-beachcam
http://www.sowal.com/webcam/seagrove-beachcam-at-walton-dunes

That's exactly what I was looking for - just a daily update! Awesome and thank you!

Now if we can just get Bay County to also follow suit......But I'm so close to Walton, this link will at least give me a pretty good idea. If Walton is flying double red, Bay often is as well. Thanks!

 

[Kurt]

That's exactly what I was looking for - just a daily update! Awesome and thank you!

Now if we can just get Bay County to also follow suit......But I'm so close to Walton, this link will at least give me a pretty good idea. If Walton is flying double red, Bay often is as well. Thanks!

You are welcome - glad we can be of help!