Florida Rip Current Statement | Effective 05/09/2026 00:53

Headline: 
Rip Current Statement issued May 9 at 3:53AM EDT until May 9 at 6:00PM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
Event: 
Rip Current Statement
Urgency: 
Expected
Effective: 
May 9, 2026 - 12:53am
Expires: 
May 9, 2026 - 3:00pm
Description: 
* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Walton, Bay, and Gulf County Beaches. * WHEN...Through this afternoon. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A short-lived surge of southeast wind from about midnight to 3 am CDT came with gusts to gale-force. The wind has died down now, but this kicked up enough surf to confidently bring a high risk of rip currents through this morning. The surf zone effects of the overnight wind surge will fade this afternoon, so the risk of rip currents will also fade away by late afternoon.
Instruction: 
Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
Area Description: 
South Walton; Coastal Bay; Coastal Gulf
Forcast Office: 
NWS Tallahassee FL