Click the map below for a detailed, zone based Coastal Waters Forecast

For the recently added St Andrews Bay Zone Forecast, click on the St Andrews Bay in the map above for a Marine Weather Forecast. For more information on recently changed marine zones, and the reasoning, please view this webpage here.

Nearshore Marine Forecasts

• Follow this link for Coastal Waters Forecast options beyond the map above 

Offshore Marine Forecasts

• Follow this link for Offshore Waters Forecast options beyond the map above

Click a point below for a detailed Hourly Weather Graph

If you need a forecast for a point not represented above...

• Navigate to this link and click the map for a detailed forecast in both tabular and graphical formats.

Learn About Rip Current Safety Before Visiting The Beach!

For a graphical forecast, visit weather.gov/beach/tae or see the county based surf zone forecast below:

Detailed Surf Zone Forecast

332
FZUS52 KTAE 171517
SRFTAE

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1117 AM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

.THE SURF ZONE FORECAST GENERAL OUTLOOK...

Gusty northwest winds today will lead to a high risk of rip currents
at west-facing Gulf County Beaches. Elsewhere a moderate risk of rip
currents is expected. Persistent offshore flow and decreasing winds
will lead to improving conditions heading into mid-week. Beachgoers
are urged to follow the beach flags, especially during Spring Break
time. If double red flags are flying, it means that the waters are
closed to the public, not the beaches.

Based on communication with area beach officials, the following flags
are flying at area beaches:

Walton........................Yellow
Bay...........................Yellow
State Park Gulf Beaches.......Double Red
West Facing Gulf Beaches......Double Red
South Facing Gulf Beaches.....Red
Franklin......................Yellow

FLZ108-180900-
South Walton-
Including the beaches of Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach,
and Turquoise Beach
1017 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
UV Index**..................High.
Water Temperature...........63 degrees.
Weather.....................Sunny.
High Temperature............In the mid 50s.
Winds.......................North winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
None.
Sunrise.....................7:51 AM.
Sunset......................7:54 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny until 2 PM, then mostly
cloudy.
High Temperature............In the upper 50s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 15 mph, becoming
east around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 06:07 AM CDT.
High at 12:03 PM CDT.
Low at 04:56 PM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:50 AM.
Sunset......................7:55 PM.

.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. East winds around 5 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
West winds around 5 mph.
.SATURDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs around 70.
Southwest winds around 10 mph.

&&

Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.

** For lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae

$$

FLZ112-180900-
Coastal Bay-
Including the beaches of Panama City Beach and Magnolia Beach
1017 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
UV Index**..................High.
Water Temperature...........62 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............In the mid 50s.
Winds.......................North winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
None.
Sunrise.....................7:49 AM.
Sunset......................7:52 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny until 2 PM, then mostly
cloudy.
High Temperature............In the upper 50s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 06:07 AM CDT.
High at 12:03 PM CDT.
Low at 04:56 PM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:48 AM.
Sunset......................7:53 PM.

.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
Northwest winds around 10 mph.
.SATURDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs around 70.
Southwest winds around 10 mph.

&&

Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.

** For lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae

$$

FLZ114-180900-
Coastal Gulf-
Including the beaches of Saint Joe Beach
1117 AM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026 /1017 AM CDT Tue Mar 17 2026/

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM EDT /10 PM CDT/ THIS
EVENING...

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk...
W Facing Beaches.........High.
S Facing Beaches.........High.
State Park Beaches.......High.
Surf Height...
W Facing Beaches.........Around 3 feet.
S Facing Beaches.........Around 1 foot.
State Park Beaches.......Around 3 feet.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........63 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............In the mid 50s.
Winds.......................North winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............High at 04:36 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:48 AM.
Sunset......................7:51 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk...
W Facing Beaches.........Moderate.
S Facing Beaches.........Moderate.
State Park Beaches.......Moderate.
Surf Height...
W Facing Beaches.........Around 1 foot.
S Facing Beaches.........Around 1 foot.
State Park Beaches.......Around 1 foot.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............Around 60.
Winds.......................Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 10:52 AM EDT.
High at 04:38 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:46 AM.
Sunset......................7:52 PM.

.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
North winds around 10 mph.
.SATURDAY...High rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs around 70. Southwest
winds around 10 mph.

&&

Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.

** For lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae

$$

FLZ115-180900-
Coastal Franklin-
Including the beaches of Apalachicola
1117 AM EDT Tue Mar 17 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........65 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............In the mid 50s.
Winds.......................North winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............High at 04:36 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:46 AM.
Sunset......................7:49 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............In the upper 50s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 10:52 AM EDT.
High at 04:38 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:45 AM.
Sunset......................7:50 PM.

.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
Northeast winds around 5 mph.
.SATURDAY...Low rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs around 70. Southwest
winds around 10 mph.

&&

Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.

** For lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae


$$

037
SOUS42 KTAE 180005
TIDTAE

Tide information for Wednesday March 18 2026.

Saint Marks River Entrance.
High 02:28 AM ... Low 08:43 AM ... High 02:50 PM ... Low 08:59 PM.

Apalachicola.
High 04:00 AM ... Low 10:52 AM ... High 04:38 PM ... Low 10:53 PM.

Saint Andrews Bay at Panama City.
Low 06:07 AM ... High 12:03 PM ... Low 04:56 PM.

Note that the times of high and low tide are 3 minutes earlier at
Shell Point than at the Saint Marks River Entrance.

The average water temperature at Apalachicola was 66.2 degrees.
Sunrise and sunset in Tallahassee.
March 18 2026: Sunrise 744 AM EDT Sunset 748 PM EDT

More Information on Tides and SST's

• NOAA Tides Website (zoom in to the area of interest for a point)

Are you interested in receiving occasional marine-related news from NWS-Tallahassee or becoming a Weather Ready Nation (WRN) Marine Ambassador?

Fill out the NWS-Tallahassee Marine Contact Form (linked)!

For questions, please contact: Lance.Franck@noaa.gov

Weather Slides for Presentation Above

Navigation Slides for Presentation Above

Other information

• Marine Modeling and Analysis Branch
• Rip Current Safety Info
• Beaufort Scale (descriptions; color photos)
• Boating Safety
• U.S. Coast Guard
• National Geodetic Survery
• Port Meteorological Officers' Volunteer Observing Ship (VOS) Program
• NWS Marine Weather Services
• Frequently Asked Questions