Coastal Saint Lucie Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

FloridaNear Indian River Estates, Saint Lucie CountyNWS zone FLZ159NWS Melbourne

Rip current risk today: Moderate. Life-threatening rip currents are possible. Swim near a lifeguard, and follow the beach patrol and its flags.

Surf around 2 feet, water in the mid 80s. Buoy 41114, 11 mi out, measured 86 °F water and 2.3 ft waves. Sunset 7:16 PM.

Rip current risk: ModerateToday
Surf: Around 2 feetForecast
Water: In the mid 80sForecast
Sunset: 7:16 PMEDT

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Coastal Saint Lucie Beaches. Open it for the live map, where it pans and zooms.

Open the live map with rip current risk

Map layer from NOAA National Weather Service surf zone forecasts. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Alerts in force

No beach hazards statement, high surf advisory or other warning is in force for Coastal Saint Lucie Beaches. Those are the products a coastal office issues when the water turns dangerous. When one is issued it appears here and on the alerts page for this area.

Today and tomorrow

From the National Weather Service beach forecast, issued 1100 AM EDT, 9/23/2026.

Today Rest of today

Moderate rip current risk

Rip current risk: Moderate
Surf: Around 2 feet
Water temperature: In the mid 80s
UV index: Very High
High temperature: In the mid 80s
Weather: Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms likely
Wind: South winds around 5 mph, becoming east in the afternoon
Thunderstorms: High

UV index 8 to 10. Unprotected skin burns quickly; minimize sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tomorrow Thursday

High rip current risk

Rip current risk: High
Surf: Around 2 feet
High temperature: In the upper 80s
Weather: Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
Wind: Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph
Thunderstorms: Moderate

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Coastal Saint Lucie, Coastal Martin. Issued 11:00 AM EDT on Wed, Sep 23 by the National Weather Service in Melbourne.

Rest of today

Rip Current Risk: Moderate
Surf Height: Around 2 feet
Thunderstorm Potential: High
UV Index: Very High
Water Temperature: In the mid 80s
Weather: Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms likely
High Temperature: In the mid 80s
Winds: South winds around 5 mph, becoming east in the afternoon
Tides, Fort Pierce Inlet: Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 12:31 PM EDT
Sunrise: 7:10 AM
Sunset: 7:18 PM

Thursday

Rip Current Risk: High
Surf Height: Around 2 feet
Thunderstorm Potential: Moderate
Weather: Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
High Temperature: In the upper 80s
Winds: Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph
Tides, Fort Pierce Inlet: High 2.1 feet (MLLW) 07:22 AM EDT. Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 01:19 PM EDT
Sunrise: 7:10 AM
Sunset: 7:17 PM

Friday

Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. North winds around 20 mph.

Saturday

Sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 15 mph.

Sunday

Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 10 mph.

The office's notes on this forecast

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 thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see: https://www.weather.gov/beach/mlb

The product as issued

FZUS52 KMLB 231500
SRFMLB

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Melbourne FL
1100 AM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

FLZ141-347-447-232000-
Coastal Volusia-Mainland Northern Brevard-
Northern Brevard Barrier Islands-
Including the beaches of Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, 
New Smyrna Beach, and Canaveral National Seashore
1100 AM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Moderate. 
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the lower 80s. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................North winds around 10 mph.
Tides...
   Daytona Beach............Low 1.0 feet (MLLW) 12:00 PM EDT.
   Port Canaveral...........Low 0.8 feet (MLLW) 11:50 AM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:13 AM. 
Sunset......................7:21 PM.

.THURSDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........High. 
Surf Height.................2 to 6 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. Showers likely and a 
                            chance of thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................North winds around 10 mph, increasing 
                            to around 20 mph in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Daytona Beach............High 4.2 feet (MLLW) 06:38 AM EDT.
                            Low 0.8 feet (MLLW) 12:50 PM EDT.
   Port Canaveral...........High 3.8 feet (MLLW) 06:29 AM EDT.
                            Low 0.7 feet (MLLW) 12:36 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:13 AM. 
Sunset......................7:20 PM.

.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and a slight chance of
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 20 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North 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 thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/mlb

$$

FLZ154-647-747-232000-
Coastal Indian River-Mainland Southern Brevard-
Southern Brevard Barrier Islands-
Including the beaches of Vero Beach, Cocoa Beach, Satellite Beach, 
and Melbourne Beach
1100 AM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Moderate. 
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the lower 80s. 
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Showers and 
                            thunderstorms likely. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................Northwest winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            northeast in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Port Canaveral...........Low 0.8 feet (MLLW) 11:50 AM EDT.
   Sebastian Inlet..........Low 0.6 feet (MLLW) 12:17 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:11 AM. 
Sunset......................7:19 PM.

.THURSDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........High. 
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................North winds 10 to 15 mph.
Tides...
   Port Canaveral...........High 3.8 feet (MLLW) 06:29 AM EDT.
                            Low 0.7 feet (MLLW) 12:36 PM EDT.
   Sebastian Inlet..........High 2.6 feet (MLLW) 06:44 AM EDT.
                            Low 0.6 feet (MLLW) 12:58 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:12 AM. 
Sunset......................7:18 PM.

.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and a slight chance of
thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 20 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 15 mph.
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North 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 thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/mlb

$$

FLZ159-164-232000-
Coastal Saint Lucie-Coastal Martin-
Including the beaches of Fort Pierce Inlet, Jensen Beach, 
St Lucie Inlet, and Hobe Sound
1100 AM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Moderate. 
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms 
                            likely. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................South winds around 5 mph, becoming east 
                            in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Fort Pierce Inlet........Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 12:31 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:10 AM. 
Sunset......................7:18 PM.

.THURSDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........High. 
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
   Fort Pierce Inlet........High 2.1 feet (MLLW) 07:22 AM EDT.
                            Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 01:19 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:10 AM. 
Sunset......................7:17 PM.

.FRIDAY...Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and a slight chance of
thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. North winds around 20 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 15 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s. North 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 thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/mlb


$$

The water now, measured

Buoy 41114, Fort Pierce, FL (134), 11 mi away, reported 5:26 PM.

Waves: 2.3 ft at 3 seconds from the N
Water temperature: 86 °F

From NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Wave height is the significant height, the average of the highest third; the largest waves run half again as high. Offshore buoys read bigger than the surf at the beach.

Tides today

Ankona, 4.7 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

Low tide2:53 AM0.3 ft
High tide8:33 AM1.3 ft
Low tide3:01 PM0.1 ft
High tide9:06 PM1.5 ft

Low tide often exposes the sandbars and channels that shape rip currents, and the risk can run higher for an hour or two either side of it. Full tide table for Ankona.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 7:10 AM
Sunset today: 7:16 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 7:10 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 7:15 PM

Times are Eastern Daylight Time. Lifeguards are off duty outside posted hours, and the rip current risk does not fall with the light.

Beaches in this forecast

The office forecasts these beaches together with the neighboring zones.

Fort Pierce Inlet
Jensen Beach
St Lucie Inlet
Hobe Sound

As the National Weather Service lists them in its surf zone forecast.

What this means

The three levels the National Weather Service issues, and what to do at each.

High	Life-threatening rip currents are likely. The surf zone is dangerous for swimmers of every level. Stay out of the water.
Moderate	Life-threatening rip currents are possible. Swim near a lifeguard, and follow the beach patrol and its flags.
Low	Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard.

If a rip current carries you out

Do not fight the current. It pulls you away from the beach, not under the water.
Stay calm and keep your head above water. Float or tread water until the pull eases.
Swim parallel to the beach, along the shore, until you are out of the current, then angle in toward the beach.
If you cannot escape, face the shore, wave your arms and call for help.
If someone else is caught, do not go in after them. Get a lifeguard, call 911, and throw them something that floats.

Thunderstorms and lightning

The forecast has a high chance of thunderstorms today. Water and open sand leave you the tallest thing around. When thunder roars, go indoors: leave the water and the beach for a building or a hard-topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back.

A rip current is a narrow stream of water flowing away from the beach, through the surf and past the breakers. It pulls swimmers out, not under. Rip current and lightning safety guidance from the National Weather Service.

Nearby

The stretches of shore the National Weather Service forecasts on either side of this one.

More for this place

Sources

Rip current risk, surf, water temperature and UV from the National Weather Service surf zone forecast and beach forecast, office MLB, issued 1100 AM EDT, 9/23/2026. Original at NWS. Waves and water temperature measured by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS. Alerts from the National Weather Service for zone FLZ159.