Fort Lauderdale Area: rip current risk and surf forecast

FloridaNear Sunrise, Broward CountyNWS zone FLZ172NWS Miami - South Florida

Rip current risk today: Low. Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard.

Surf 1 foot or less, water in the mid 80s. Buoy 41122, 10 mi out, measured 86 °F water and 1.0 ft waves. Sunset 7:19 PM.

Rip current risk: LowToday
Surf: 1 foot or lessForecast
Water: In the mid 80sForecast
Sunset: 7:19 PMEDT

Radar

Reflectivity now over Fort Lauderdale Area. Open it to see rip current risk on the map.

Open the live radar with rip current risk

Radar mosaic and map layers from NOAA MRMS. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Alerts in force

No beach hazards statement, high surf advisory or other warning is in force for Fort Lauderdale Area. 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 411 AM EDT, 9/20/2026.

Today Today

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 1 foot or less
Water temperature: In the mid 80s
UV index: Very High
High temperature: In the upper 80s
Weather: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely
Wind: Light and variable winds, becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon
Thunderstorms: High
Waterspouts: None

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

Tomorrow Monday

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 1 foot or less
High temperature: In the upper 80s
Weather: Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms likely
Wind: Light and variable winds, becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon
Thunderstorms: High
Waterspouts: None

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Coastal Broward. Issued 4:11 AM EDT on Sun, Sep 20 by the National Weather Service in Miami - South Florida.

Today

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 1 foot or less
Thunderstorm Potential: High
Waterspout Risk: None
UV Index: Very High
Water Temperature: In the mid 80s
Weather: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely
High Temperature: In the upper 80s
Max Heat Index: Up to 100
Winds: Light and variable winds, becoming east around 5 mph in the afternoon
Tides, Miami Harbor Entrance: Low at 10:08 AM EDT. High at 04:42 PM EDT
Sunrise: 7:08 AM
Sunset: 7:21 PM

Monday

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 1 foot or less
Thunderstorm Potential: High
Waterspout Risk: None
Weather: Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms likely
High Temperature: In the upper 80s
Max Heat Index: Up to 100
Winds: Light and variable winds, becoming south around 5 mph in the afternoon
Tides, Miami Harbor Entrance: Low at 11:05 AM EDT. High at 05:39 PM EDT
Sunrise: 7:08 AM
Sunset: 7:19 PM

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/mfl

The product as issued

FZUS52 KMFL 200811
SRFMFL

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Miami FL
411 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

FLZ168-202200-
Coastal Palm Beach-
Including the beaches of Palm Beach
411 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms 
                            likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................Light and variable winds, becoming 
                            northeast around 5 mph in the 
                            afternoon.
Tides...
   Lake Worth Pier..........Low at 09:40 AM EDT.
                            High at 04:17 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:08 AM. 
Sunset......................7:20 PM.

.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. Showers with 
                            thunderstorms likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................Light and variable winds, becoming 
                            southeast around 5 mph in the 
                            afternoon.
Tides...
   Lake Worth Pier..........Low at 10:36 AM EDT.
                            High at 05:10 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:08 AM. 
Sunset......................7:19 PM.

&&

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/mfl

$$

FLZ172-202200-
Coastal Broward-
Including the beaches of Fort Lauderdale
411 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Showers and 
                            thunderstorms likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Max Heat Index..............Up to 100. 
Winds.......................Light and variable winds, becoming east 
                            around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Miami Harbor Entrance....Low at 10:08 AM EDT.
                            High at 04:42 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:08 AM. 
Sunset......................7:21 PM.

.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms 
                            likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Max Heat Index..............Up to 100. 
Winds.......................Light and variable winds, becoming 
                            south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Miami Harbor Entrance....Low at 11:05 AM EDT.
                            High at 05:39 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:08 AM. 
Sunset......................7:19 PM.

&&

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/mfl

$$

FLZ173-202200-
Coastal Miami-Dade-
Including the beaches of Miami
411 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Showers and 
                            thunderstorms likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Max Heat Index..............Up to 100. 
Winds.......................Light and variable winds, becoming east 
                            around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Miami Harbor Entrance....Low at 10:08 AM EDT.
                            High at 04:42 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:08 AM. 
Sunset......................7:21 PM.

.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms 
                            likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Max Heat Index..............Up to 100. 
Winds.......................Light and variable winds, becoming 
                            south around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Miami Harbor Entrance....Low at 11:05 AM EDT.
                            High at 05:39 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:08 AM. 
Sunset......................7:19 PM.

&&

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/mfl

$$

FLZ069-202200-
Coastal Collier-
Including the beaches of Naples and Marco Island
411 AM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................East winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            southwest in the afternoon.
Tides...
   North End of Naples Bay..High at 08:36 AM EDT.
                            Low at 03:43 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:14 AM. 
Sunset......................7:27 PM.

.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................Southeast winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            south in the afternoon.
Tides...
   North End of Naples Bay..High at 09:49 AM EDT.
                            Low at 04:35 PM EDT. 
Sunrise.....................7:15 AM. 
Sunset......................7:26 PM.

&&

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/mfl


$$

The water now, measured

Buoy 41122, Hollywood Beach, FL (265), 10 mi away, reported 8:00 AM.

Waves: 1.0 ft at 4 seconds from the ENE
Water temperature: 86 °F
Air temperature: 78 °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

Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Anglin Fishing Pier, 3.3 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

High tide3:48 AM2.3 ft
Low tide10:06 AM0.9 ft
High tide4:32 PM2.6 ft
Low tide10:50 PM1.1 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 Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Anglin Fishing Pier.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 7:08 AM
Sunset today: 7:19 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 7:08 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 7:18 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

Fort Lauderdale

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 MFL, issued 411 AM EDT, 9/20/2026. 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 FLZ172.