Fort Walton and Destin Area Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

FloridaNear Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa CountyNWS zone FLZ206NWS Mobile - Pensacola

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 around 1 foot, water in the mid 80s. Buoy PCLF1, 37 mi out, measured 87 °F water. Sunset 6:43 PM.

Rip current risk: LowToday
Surf: Around 1 footForecast
Water: In the mid 80sForecast
Sunset: 6:43 PMCDT

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Fort Walton and Destin Area 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 Fort Walton and Destin Area 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 303 AM CDT, 9/22/2026.

Today Today

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: Around 1 foot
Water temperature: In the mid 80s
UV index: Very High
High temperature: In the upper 80s
Weather: Mostly sunny
Wind: Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming southeast in the afternoon

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

Tomorrow Wednesday

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 1 foot or less
High temperature: In the lower 90s
Weather: Sunny
Wind: Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming southeast in the afternoon

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Escambia Coastal, Santa Rosa Coastal, Okaloosa Coastal. Issued 3:03 AM CDT on Tue, Sep 22 by the National Weather Service in Mobile - Pensacola.

Today

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: Around 1 foot
UV Index: Very High
Water Temperature: In the mid 80s
Weather: Mostly sunny
High Temperature: In the upper 80s
Winds: Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming southeast in the afternoon
Tides, Pensacola Pass: High 1.3 feet (MLLW) 06:59 AM CDT
Tides, Navarre Beach: High 1.7 feet (MLLW) 06:06 AM CDT. Low 0.5 feet (MLLW) 04:17 PM CDT
Tides, East Pass (Destin): High 0.8 feet (MLLW) 07:49 AM CDT

Tonight

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 1 foot or less
Weather: Mostly clear
Low Temperature: In the upper 70s
Winds: Southwest winds around 5 mph, becoming northeast after midnight
Tides, Pensacola Pass: Low 0.4 feet (MLLW) 06:25 PM CDT
Tides, East Pass (Destin): Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 06:25 PM CDT

Wednesday

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 1 foot or less
Weather: Sunny
High Temperature: In the lower 90s
Winds: Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming southeast in the afternoon
Tides, Pensacola Pass: High 1.2 feet (MLLW) 07:54 AM CDT
Tides, Navarre Beach: High 1.6 feet (MLLW) 07:13 AM CDT. Low 0.6 feet (MLLW) 04:18 PM CDT
Tides, East Pass (Destin): High 0.8 feet (MLLW) 08:44 AM CDT

The days after

Wednesday night. Low rip current risk*. Surf height 1 foot or less. Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.

Thursday. Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot. Sunny. Highs in the upper 80s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.

Thursday night. Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.

Friday. Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. East winds around 10 mph.

Friday night. Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Northeast winds around 5 mph.

Saturday. Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot. Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. East 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/mob

The product as issued

FZUS54 KMOB 220803
SRFMOB

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Mobile AL
303 AM CDT Tue Sep 22 2026

ALZ265-266-230800-
Mobile Coastal-Baldwin Coastal-
Including the beaches of Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, 
and Orange Beach
303 AM CDT Tue Sep 22 2026

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. 
High Temperature............Around 90. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            southeast in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Dauphin Island...........High 1.6 feet (MLLW) 07:32 AM CDT.

.TONIGHT...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Weather.....................Mostly clear. 
Low Temperature.............In the upper 70s. 
Winds.......................Southeast winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            north after midnight.
Tides...
   Dauphin Island...........Low 0.3 feet (MLLW) 06:51 PM CDT.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Weather.....................Sunny. 
High Temperature............In the lower 90s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 5 mph.
Tides...
   Dauphin Island...........High 1.5 feet (MLLW) 08:24 AM CDT.

.EXTENDED...
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 1 foot or less.
Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. Northeast winds around 5 mph. 
.THURSDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot. Sunny.
Highs in the upper 80s. Northeast winds around 10 mph. 
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to
2 feet. Partly cloudy. A slight chance of showers. Lows in the mid
70s. East winds around 5 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly
sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. East winds around 10 mph. 
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 2 feet.
Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. East winds around 5 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot. Mostly
sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. East winds around 5 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/mob

$$

FLZ202-204-206-230800-
Escambia Coastal-Santa Rosa Coastal-Okaloosa Coastal-
Including the beaches of Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Navarre Beach, 
Fort Walton Beach, and Destin
303 AM CDT Tue Sep 22 2026

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            southeast in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Pensacola Pass...........High 1.3 feet (MLLW) 06:59 AM CDT.
   Navarre Beach............High 1.7 feet (MLLW) 06:06 AM CDT.
                            Low 0.5 feet (MLLW) 04:17 PM CDT.
   East Pass (Destin).......High 0.8 feet (MLLW) 07:49 AM CDT.

.TONIGHT...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Weather.....................Mostly clear. 
Low Temperature.............In the upper 70s. 
Winds.......................Southwest winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            northeast after midnight.
Tides...
   Pensacola Pass...........Low 0.4 feet (MLLW) 06:25 PM CDT.
   East Pass (Destin).......Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 06:25 PM CDT.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Weather.....................Sunny. 
High Temperature............In the lower 90s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            southeast in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Pensacola Pass...........High 1.2 feet (MLLW) 07:54 AM CDT.
   Navarre Beach............High 1.6 feet (MLLW) 07:13 AM CDT.
                            Low 0.6 feet (MLLW) 04:18 PM CDT.
   East Pass (Destin).......High 0.8 feet (MLLW) 08:44 AM CDT.

.EXTENDED...
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...Low rip current risk*. Surf height 1 foot or less.
Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 70s. Northeast winds around 5 mph. 
.THURSDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot. Sunny.
Highs in the upper 80s. Northeast winds around 10 mph. 
.THURSDAY NIGHT...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to
2 feet. Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 70s. Northeast winds around
10 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Sunny.
Highs in the mid 80s. East winds around 10 mph. 
.FRIDAY NIGHT...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height 1 to 2 feet.
Mostly clear. Lows in the mid 70s. Northeast winds around 5 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Low rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot. Mostly
sunny. Highs in the mid 80s. East 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/mob


$$

The water now, measured

Buoy PCLF1, 8729840 - Pensacola, FL, 37 mi away, reported 5:00 AM.

Water temperature: 87 °F
Air temperature: 76 °F
Wind: 5 kt from the N

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

Okaloosa Island, 1.8 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

High tide7:10 AM1.7 ft
Low tide4:53 PM0.4 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 Okaloosa Island.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 6:35 AM
Sunset today: 6:43 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 6:35 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 6:42 PM

Times are Central 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.

Pensacola Beach
Gulf Breeze
Navarre Beach
Fort Walton Beach
Destin

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

Thunderstorms build fast over water on a summer afternoon. 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 MOB, issued 303 AM CDT, 9/22/2026. 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 FLZ206.