Alert archive / Florida / Rip Current Statements in 2026

Rip Current Statement 13, NWS Tallahassee, FL

February 24, 2026Bay County, Gulf County, Walton County, Florida

NWS Tallahassee, FL issued this rip current statement at Feb 24, 2026, 10:46 AM CST for Bay County, Gulf County, Walton County, Florida. It was in force for 5 days.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 24, 2026, 10:46 AM CST (16:46 UTC)
Expired
Mar 1, 2026, 12:00 AM CST
In force
5 days
Issued by
NWS Tallahassee, FL

Counties Bay County, FL, Gulf County, FL, Walton County, FL

The radar

The Eglin Afb radar (KEVX), 41 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 16:51 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Birmingham, AL (KBMX), launched 12:00Z, 4.8 hours before the alert went out and 341 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2026-02-24Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Birmingham, AL at 12:00Z on 2026-02-24The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 27 square meters per square second.1939587897117Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
1751 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
63 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
27 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
82 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

054 
WHUS42 KTAE 241646
CFWTAE

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1146 AM EST Tue Feb 24 2026

FLZ112-114-250800-
/O.NEW.KTAE.RP.S.0013.260224T1646Z-260225T0800Z/
Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-
1146 AM EST Tue Feb 24 2026 /1046 AM CST Tue Feb 24 2026/

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Bay County Beaches and the State Park Beaches of Gulf 
  County.

* WHEN...Through late tonight.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$
4 follow-up statements
785 
WHUS42 KTAE 250530
CFWTAE

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1230 AM EST Wed Feb 25 2026

FLZ115-260530-
/O.NEW.KTAE.RP.S.0014.260225T1800Z-260228T0600Z/
Coastal Franklin-
1230 AM EST Wed Feb 25 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH
LATE FRIDAY NIGHT...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected.

* WHERE...Franklin County Beaches.

* WHEN...From this afternoon through late Friday night.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

FLZ108-260530-
/O.EXB.KTAE.RP.S.0013.000000T0000Z-260228T0600Z/
South Walton-
1130 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Walton County Beaches.

* WHEN...Through Friday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

FLZ112-114-260530-
/O.EXT.KTAE.RP.S.0013.000000T0000Z-260228T0600Z/
Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-
1230 AM EST Wed Feb 25 2026 /1130 PM CST Tue Feb 24 2026/

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Bay and Gulf County Beaches.

* WHEN...Through Friday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$
014 
WHUS42 KTAE 260538
CFWTAE

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1238 AM EST Thu Feb 26 2026

FLZ108-112-114-270600-
/O.CON.KTAE.RP.S.0013.000000T0000Z-260228T0600Z/
South Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-
1238 AM EST Thu Feb 26 2026 /1138 PM CST Wed Feb 25 2026/

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Walton, Bay, and Gulf County Beaches.

* WHEN...Through late Friday night.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

FLZ115-270600-
/O.CON.KTAE.RP.S.0014.000000T0000Z-260228T0600Z/
Coastal Franklin-
1238 AM EST Thu Feb 26 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE FRIDAY
NIGHT...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Franklin County Beaches.

* WHEN...Through late Friday night.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$
769 
WHUS42 KTAE 270510
CFWTAE

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1210 AM EST Fri Feb 27 2026

FLZ108-112-114-280600-
/O.CON.KTAE.RP.S.0013.000000T0000Z-260228T0600Z/
South Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-
1210 AM EST Fri Feb 27 2026 /1110 PM CST Thu Feb 26 2026/

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Walton, Bay, and Gulf County Beaches.

* WHEN...Through late tonight.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

FLZ115-280600-
/O.CON.KTAE.RP.S.0014.000000T0000Z-260228T0600Z/
Coastal Franklin-
1210 AM EST Fri Feb 27 2026

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Franklin County Beaches.

* WHEN...Through late tonight.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

DVD
346 
WHUS42 KTAE 280545
CFWTAE

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
1245 AM EST Sat Feb 28 2026

FLZ115-280645-
/O.CAN.KTAE.RP.S.0014.000000T0000Z-260228T0600Z/
Coastal Franklin-
1245 AM EST Sat Feb 28 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...

A moderate risk of rip currents is expected for today along the
Franklin county beaches.

$$

FLZ108-112-114-010600-
/O.EXT.KTAE.RP.S.0013.000000T0000Z-260301T0600Z/
South Walton-Coastal Bay-Coastal Gulf-
1245 AM EST Sat Feb 28 2026 /1145 PM CST Fri Feb 27 2026/

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Walton, Bay, and Gulf County Beaches.

* WHEN...Through late tonight.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

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.

&&

$$

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Florida, 2026Every rip current statement in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.