Alert archive / Florida / Rip Current Statements in 2026

Rip Current Statement 16, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

July 19, 20266 counties in Florida

NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued this rip current statement at Jul 19, 2026, 3:49 AM EDT for 6 counties in Florida. It took effect at Jul 19, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 5 days.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 19, 2026, 3:49 AM EDT (07:49 UTC)
In effect from
Jul 19, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
Jul 23, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
5 days
Issued by
NWS Tampa Bay, FL

Counties Charlotte County, FL, Hillsborough County, FL, Lee County, FL, Manatee County, FL, Pinellas County, FL, Sarasota County, FL

The radar

The Tampa radar (KTBW), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 07:48 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

Tampa Bay, FL (KTBW), launched 00:00Z, 7.8 hours before the alert went out and 43 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, Tampa Bay, FL at 00:00Z on 2026-07-19Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 920 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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, Tampa Bay, FL at 00:00Z on 2026-07-19The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 59 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
920 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-22 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1036 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
22 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
59 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
73 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

695 
WHUS42 KTBW 190749
CFWTBW

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
349 AM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-191600-
/O.NEW.KTBW.RP.S.0016.260719T1000Z-260721T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-
Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
349 AM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

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

* WHAT...High risk of strong rip currents along area beaches.

* WHERE...From Pinellas county to Lee county.

* WHEN...From 6 AM this morning through 8 PM Monday.

* IMPACTS...Strong rip currents at the coast may create dangerous
  conditions at beaches.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

There is a high risk of rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the
sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties
and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and
signs.

If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain
calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for
help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to
shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to
swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly. 

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
407 
WHUS42 KTBW 190811
CFWTBW

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
411 AM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-210000-
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0016.260719T1000Z-260721T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-
Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
411 AM EDT Sun Jul 19 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, 
  Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties.

* WHEN...From 6 AM this morning through 8 PM Monday.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

There is a high risk of rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the
sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties
and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and
signs.

If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain
calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for
help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to
shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to
swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

&&

$$
815 
WHUS42 KTBW 200452
CFWTBW

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
1252 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-201300-
/O.EXT.KTBW.RP.S.0016.000000T0000Z-260722T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-
Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
1252 AM EDT Mon Jul 20 2026

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, 
  Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. 

* WHEN...through 8 PM Tuesday.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

There is a high risk of rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the
sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties
and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and
signs.

If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain
calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for
help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to
shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to
swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

&&

$$
893 
WHUS42 KTBW 211803
CFWTBW

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
203 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-220215-
/O.EXT.KTBW.RP.S.0016.000000T0000Z-260723T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-
Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
203 PM EDT Tue Jul 21 2026

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, 
  Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties. 

* WHEN...through 8 PM Tuesday.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

There is a high risk of rip currents.

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the
sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties
and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and
signs.

If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain
calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for
help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to
shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to
swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

&&

$$
824 
WHUS42 KTBW 221850
CFWTBW

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
250 PM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-240000-
/O.EXT.KTBW.RP.S.0016.000000T0000Z-260724T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-
Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
250 PM EDT Wed Jul 22 2026

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, 
  Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties.

* WHEN...Through Thursday evening.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the
sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties
and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and
signs.

If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain
calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for
help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to
shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to
swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

&&

$$
373 
WHUS42 KTBW 230721
CFWTBW

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
321 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-240000-
/O.CON.KTBW.RP.S.0016.000000T0000Z-260724T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-
Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
321 AM EDT Thu Jul 23 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, 
  Coastal Sarasota, Coastal Charlotte and Coastal Lee Counties.

* WHEN...Through Thursday evening.

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

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away
from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the
sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as groins, jetties
and piers. Heed the advice of lifeguards, beach patrol flags and
signs.

If you become caught in a rip current, yell for help. Remain
calm, do not exhaust yourself and stay afloat while waiting for
help. If you have to swim out of a rip current, swim parallel to
shore and back toward the beach when possible. Do not attempt to
swim directly against a rip current as you will tire quickly.

&&

$$

The office that day

Everything else NWS Tampa Bay, FL issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 19, 3:26 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW64 min
Jul 19, 4:27 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW63 min
Jul 19, 4:56 AM EDTSpecial Marine WarningTBW34 min
Jul 19, 5:15 AM EDTSpecial Weather StatementTBWManatee, Sarasota45 min
Jul 19, 1:44 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryTBWManatee3 hr
Jul 19, 3:39 PM EDTSpecial Weather StatementTBWLevy66 min

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.