Surf Forecast
Issued by NWS
Issued by NWS
784
FZUS52 KTAE 171631
SRFTAE
Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1131 AM EST Sat Jan 17 2026
.THE SURF ZONE FORECAST GENERAL OUTLOOK...
A turn to south winds is expected by late morning, with southerlies
increasing the most over the Panhandle waters. This will start to
increase surf heights, and a high risk of rip currents is expected to
develop for Bay and Gulf County beaches by midday. The high risk will
stick around into Saturday morning, before a turn to northerly
offshore winds starts to lower the risk late Saturday.
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......Not Available
South Facing Gulf Beaches.....Not Available
Franklin......................Red
FLZ108-172130-
South Walton-
Including the beaches of Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach,
and Turquoise Beach
1031 AM CST Sat Jan 17 2026
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
UV Index**..................Moderate.
Water Temperature...........58 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers.
High Temperature............In the mid 60s.
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 10 mph.
Tides...
None.
Sunrise.....................7:42 AM.
Sunset......................6:07 PM.
.SUNDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy until 11 AM, then sunny.
A chance of rain.
High Temperature............In the upper 40s.
Winds.......................North winds 15 to 20 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 07:36 AM CST.
Sunrise.....................7:42 AM.
Sunset......................6:08 PM.
.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height
around 1 foot. Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. North winds around
10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. Highs in the
lower 50s. North winds around 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Partly sunny. Highs in the
upper 50s. East 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
$$
FLZ112-172130-
Coastal Bay-
Including the beaches of Panama City Beach and Magnolia Beach
1031 AM CST Sat Jan 17 2026
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............High.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
UV Index**..................Moderate.
Water Temperature...........60 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers.
High Temperature............In the mid 60s.
Winds.......................East winds around 10 mph.
Tides...
None.
Sunrise.....................7:39 AM.
Sunset......................6:05 PM.
.SUNDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy until 11 AM, then mostly
sunny. A chance of rain.
High Temperature............In the upper 40s.
Winds.......................Breezy. North winds around 25 mph,
becoming northwest around 15 mph in the
afternoon.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 07:36 AM CST.
Sunrise.....................7:39 AM.
Sunset......................6:06 PM.
.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height
around 1 foot. Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. North winds around
10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. Highs in the
lower 50s. North winds around 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Partly sunny. Highs in the
upper 50s. East winds around 10 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae
$$
FLZ114-172130-
Coastal Gulf-
Including the beaches of Saint Joe Beach
1131 AM EST Sat Jan 17 2026 /1031 AM CST Sat Jan 17 2026/
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk...
W Facing Beaches.........High.
S Facing Beaches.........High.
State Park Beaches.......High.
Surf Height...
W Facing Beaches.........Around 1 foot.
S Facing Beaches.........Around 2 feet.
State Park Beaches.......Around 2 feet.
UV Index**..................Moderate.
Water Temperature...........58 degrees.
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A chance of showers.
High Temperature............In the mid 60s.
Winds.......................Southeast winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............High at 05:36 PM EST.
Sunrise.....................7:37 AM.
Sunset......................6:05 PM.
.SUNDAY...
Rip Current Risk...
W Facing Beaches.........High.
S Facing Beaches.........High.
State Park Beaches.......High.
Surf Height...
W Facing Beaches.........Around 4 feet.
S Facing Beaches.........Around 2 feet.
State Park Beaches.......Around 3 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy until 12 PM, then mostly
sunny. Rain likely.
High Temperature............In the upper 40s.
Winds.......................Windy. North winds around 30 mph,
becoming northwest around 20 mph in the
afternoon.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 10:32 AM EST.
High at 05:56 PM EST.
Sunrise.....................7:37 AM.
Sunset......................6:06 PM.
.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY...High rip current risk*. Surf height
around 2 feet. Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. North winds around
10 mph.
.TUESDAY...High rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid
50s. North winds around 20 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Partly sunny. Highs in the
upper 50s. East 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
$$
FLZ115-172130-
Coastal Franklin-
Including the beaches of Apalachicola
1131 AM EST Sat Jan 17 2026
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...
.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............High.
Surf Height.................Around 3 feet.
UV Index**..................Moderate.
Water Temperature...........57 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers.
High Temperature............In the mid 60s.
Winds.......................South winds around 15 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............High at 05:36 PM EST.
Sunrise.....................7:35 AM.
Sunset......................6:03 PM.
.SUNDAY...
Rip Current Risk............High.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy until 1 PM, then mostly
sunny. Rain likely.
High Temperature............In the upper 40s.
Winds.......................Breezy. North winds around 25 mph,
becoming northwest around 15 mph in the
afternoon.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 10:32 AM EST.
High at 05:56 PM EST.
Sunrise.....................7:35 AM.
Sunset......................6:04 PM.
.MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height
1 foot or less. Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. North winds around
10 mph.
.TUESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Mostly sunny. Highs in the
lower 50s. North winds around 15 mph.
.WEDNESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Partly sunny. Highs in the
upper 50s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
&&
Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.
** For lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae
$$