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

482
FZUS52 KTAE 181536
SRFTAE

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1136 AM EDT Tue Aug 18 2026

.THE SURF ZONE FORECAST GENERAL OUTLOOK...

A moderate risk of rip currents is expected the next few days with a
slight chance for showers and storms each day. Due to the westerly
flow regime and developing sea breeze, it`s possible a localized high
risk of rip currents develops across west-facing Gulf and Bay County
beaches in the afternoon through the next few days.

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

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

FLZ108-182015-
South Walton-
Including the beaches of Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach,
and Turquoise Beach
1036 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........87 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............Around 90.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 113.
Winds.......................West winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 01:31 PM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:13 AM.
Sunset......................8:24 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............Around 90.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 111.
Winds.......................West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 02:54 PM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:14 AM.
Sunset......................8:23 PM.

.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers. Highs in the upper 80s.
West winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. West winds
around 10 mph.
.SATURDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. West 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

$$

FLZ112-182015-
Coastal Bay-
Including the beaches of Panama City Beach and Magnolia Beach
1036 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............High.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........86 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the lower 90s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 116.
Winds.......................West winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 01:31 PM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:12 AM.
Sunset......................8:22 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 3 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A slight chance of
showers.
High Temperature............In the lower 90s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 114.
Winds.......................West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 02:54 PM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:12 AM.
Sunset......................8:21 PM.

.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 2 feet.
Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and a slight chance of
thunderstorms. Highs around 90. West winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. A slight chance
of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. West winds
around 10 mph.
.SATURDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. West 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

$$

FLZ114-182015-
Coastal Gulf-
Including the beaches of Saint Joe Beach
1136 AM EDT Tue Aug 18 2026 /1036 AM CDT Tue Aug 18 2026/

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk...
W Facing Beaches.........High.
S Facing Beaches.........Moderate.
State Park Beaches.......High.
Surf Height...
W Facing Beaches.........Around 2 feet.
S Facing Beaches.........Around 1 foot.
State Park Beaches.......Around 3 feet.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........87 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the lower 90s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 116.
Winds.......................West winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 03:17 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:10 AM.
Sunset......................8:20 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk...
W Facing Beaches.........Moderate.
S Facing Beaches.........Moderate.
State Park Beaches.......High.
Surf Height...
W Facing Beaches.........Around 2 feet.
S Facing Beaches.........Around 1 foot.
State Park Beaches.......Around 3 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and a
slight chance of thunderstorms.
High Temperature............Around 90.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 111.
Winds.......................West winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............High at 07:40 AM EDT.
Low at 04:29 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:11 AM.
Sunset......................8:19 PM.

.THURSDAY...High rip current risk*. Surf height around 2 feet. Mostly
sunny. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms.
Highs in the upper 80s. West winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...High rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. West winds around 10 mph.
.SATURDAY...High rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. A chance of showers
and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. West winds around 15 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

$$

FLZ115-182015-
Coastal Franklin-
Including the beaches of Apalachicola
1136 AM EDT Tue Aug 18 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........89 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the lower 90s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 116.
Winds.......................West winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 03:17 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:09 AM.
Sunset......................8:18 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and a
slight chance of thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the lower 90s.
Max Heat Index..............Up to 113.
Winds.......................West winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............High at 07:40 AM EDT.
Low at 04:29 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:09 AM.
Sunset......................8:17 PM.

.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and a slight chance of
thunderstorms. Highs around 90. West winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. West winds around
10 mph.
.SATURDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 80s. West 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


$$

893
SOUS42 KTAE 190111
TIDTAE

Tide information for Wednesday August 19 2026.

Saint Marks River Entrance.
High 06:02 AM ... Low 01:51 PM ... High 08:08 PM.

Apalachicola.
Low 01:33 AM ... High 07:40 AM ... Low 04:29 PM.

Saint Andrews Bay at Panama City.
High 02:07 AM ... Low 02:54 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 89.6 degrees.
Sunrise and sunset in Tallahassee.
August 19 2026: Sunrise 707 AM EDT Sunset 815 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