Rip Current Statement 7, NWS Tampa Bay, FL

Issued

Feb 1, 2026, 11:17 PM EST (04:17 UTC)

In effect from

Feb 2, 2026, 11:00 PM EST

Expired

Feb 2, 2026, 3:38 AM EST

In force

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 Tampa radar (KTBW), 44 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 04:18 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.

130 
WHUS42 KTBW 020417
CFWTBW

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
1117 PM EST Sun Feb 1 2026

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-021230-
/O.NEW.KTBW.RP.S.0007.260203T0400Z-260204T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-
Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
1117 PM EST Sun Feb 1 2026

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

* WHAT...High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents expected.

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

* WHEN...Through Monday evening.

* 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. 

&&

$$

967 
WHUS42 KTBW 020838
CFWTBW

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Tampa Bay Ruskin FL
338 AM EST Mon Feb 2 2026

FLZ050-151-155-160-162-165-021645-
/O.CAN.KTBW.RP.S.0007.260203T0400Z-260204T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KTBW.RP.S.0008.260202T0838Z-260203T0000Z/
Pinellas-Coastal Hillsborough-Coastal Manatee-Coastal Sarasota-
Coastal Charlotte-Coastal Lee-
338 AM EST Mon Feb 2 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK 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 this 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.

&&

$$

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

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.