Miami Beach Area: rip current risk and surf forecast

FloridaNear Miami Beach, Miami-Dade CountyNWS zone FLZ173NWS 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 VAKF1, 7.4 mi out, measured 86 °F water. Sunset 7:19 PM.

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

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Miami Beach Area. 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 Miami Beach 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 416 PM EDT, 9/20/2026.

Today Rest of today

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 1 foot or less
Water temperature: In the mid 80s
High temperature: In the upper 80s
Weather: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely
Wind: East winds around 5 mph
Thunderstorms: High
Waterspouts: None

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: West winds around 5 mph, becoming south in the afternoon
Thunderstorms: High
Waterspouts: None

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Coastal Miami, Dade. Issued 4:16 PM EDT on Sun, Sep 20 by the National Weather Service in Miami - South Florida.

Rest of today

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 1 foot or less
Thunderstorm Potential: High
Waterspout Risk: None
Water Temperature: In the mid 80s
Weather: Mostly cloudy. Showers and thunderstorms likely
High Temperature: In the upper 80s
Winds: East winds around 5 mph
Tides, Miami Harbor Entrance: 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
Winds: West winds around 5 mph, becoming south 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 202016
SRFMFL

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Miami FL
416 PM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

FLZ168-211000-
Coastal Palm Beach-
Including the beaches of Palm Beach
416 PM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
Water Temperature...........In the upper 80s. 
Weather.....................Partly sunny. Showers with 
                            thunderstorms likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 5 mph. 
Tides...
   Lake Worth Pier..........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.....................Mostly sunny until 4 PM, then mostly 
                            cloudy. Showers and 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

$$

FLZ172-211000-
Coastal Broward-
Including the beaches of Fort Lauderdale
416 PM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Showers and 
                            thunderstorms likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................East winds around 5 mph. 
Tides...
   Miami Harbor Entrance....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. 
Winds.......................West winds around 5 mph, becoming south 
                            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

$$

FLZ173-211000-
Coastal Miami-Dade-
Including the beaches of Miami
416 PM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Low. 
Surf Height.................1 foot or less. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....High. 
Waterspout Risk**...........None. 
Water Temperature...........In the mid 80s. 
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Showers and 
                            thunderstorms likely. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Winds.......................East winds around 5 mph. 
Tides...
   Miami Harbor Entrance....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. 
Winds.......................West winds around 5 mph, becoming south 
                            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

$$

FLZ069-211000-
Coastal Collier-
Including the beaches of Naples and Marco Island
416 PM EDT Sun Sep 20 2026

.REST OF TODAY...
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.......................West winds around 5 mph. 
Tides...
   North End of Naples Bay..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.......................East 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 VAKF1, 8723214 - Virginia Key, FL, 7.4 mi away, reported 10:00 PM.

Water temperature: 86 °F
Air temperature: 80 °F
Wind: 3 kt from the WNW

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

Miami Harbor Entrance, 4.2 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

High tide3:32 AM2.3 ft
Low tide9:56 AM0.9 ft
High tide4:33 PM2.5 ft
Low tide10:44 PM1.2 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 Miami Harbor Entrance.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 7:08 AM
Sunset today: 7:19 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 7:09 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

Miami

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 416 PM 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 FLZ173.