Southeast Coastal St. Johns Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

FloridaNear Butler Beach, Saint Johns CountyNWS zone FLZ333NWS Jacksonville

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

Surf 1 to 2 feet, water 80 to 85. Buoy 41117, 16 mi out, measured 83 °F water and 2.0 ft waves. Sunset 7:23 PM.

Rip current risk: ModerateToday
Surf: 1 to 2 feetForecast
Water: 80 to 85Forecast
Sunset: 7:23 PMEDT

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Southeast Coastal St. Johns 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 Southeast Coastal St. Johns 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, 9/21/2026.

Today Rest of today

Moderate rip current risk

Rip current risk: Moderate
Surf: 1 to 2 feet
Water temperature: 80 to 85
UV index: Very High
High temperature: In the mid 80s
Weather: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
Wind: Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph
Thunderstorms: Moderate

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

Tomorrow Tuesday

Moderate rip current risk

Rip current risk: Moderate
Surf: 2 to 3 feet
High temperature: In the mid 80s
Weather: Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
Wind: North winds around 5 mph, becoming northeast in the afternoon
Thunderstorms: Low

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Nassau, Duval, Flagler, St. Johns. Issued 11:00 AM EDT on Mon, Sep 21 by the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.

A moderate risk of rip currents is in effect

Rest of today

Rip Current Risk: Moderate
Surf Height: 1 to 2 feet
Thunderstorm Potential: Moderate
UV Index: Very High
Water Temperature: 80 to 85
Weather: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms
High Temperature: In the mid 80s
Winds: Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph
Tides, Vilano Beach: High 05:26 PM EDT
Tides, St Augustine Beach: High 05:11 PM EDT
Tides, Fernandina Beach: High 05:38 PM EDT
Tides, Mayport Naval Station: High 05:26 PM EDT
Tides, Jacksonville Beach: High 05:13 PM EDT

Tuesday

Rip Current Risk: Moderate
Surf Height: 2 to 3 feet
Thunderstorm Potential: Low
Weather: Mostly sunny. A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms
High Temperature: In the mid 80s
Winds: North winds around 5 mph, becoming northeast in the afternoon
Tides, Vilano Beach: Low 11:42 AM EDT
Tides, St Augustine Beach: Low 11:28 AM EDT. High 05:58 PM EDT
Tides, Fernandina Beach: Low 11:50 AM EDT
Tides, Mayport Naval Station: Low 11:26 AM EDT
Tides, Jacksonville Beach: Low 11:44 AM EDT

The days after

Wednesday. Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Partly sunny. A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. North winds around 10 mph.

Thursday. Surf height 4 to 6 feet. Partly sunny. Showers likely and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around 20 mph.

Friday. Surf height 6 to 8 feet. Mostly sunny. A chance of showers. Highs around 80. North winds around 20 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/jax

The product as issued

FZUS52 KJAX 211500
SRFJAX

Surf Zone Forecast for Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia
National Weather Service Jacksonville FL
1100 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026

FLZ124-125-138-233-333-220600-
Nassau-Duval-Flagler-St. Johns-
Including the beaches of Yulee, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville Beach, 
Palm Coast, Palm Valley, Ponte Vedra Beach, Sawgrass, Vilano Beach, 
Anastasia, Crescent Beach, St. Augustine, and St. Augustine South
1100 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026

...A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IS IN EFFECT...

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Moderate. 
Surf Height.................1 to 2 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........80 to 85. 
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
   Vilano Beach.............High  05:26 PM EDT.
   St Augustine Beach.......High  05:11 PM EDT.
   Fernandina Beach.........High  05:38 PM EDT.
   Mayport Naval Station....High  05:26 PM EDT.
   Jacksonville Beach.......High  05:13 PM EDT.

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Moderate. 
Surf Height.................2 to 3 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Low. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A slight chance of 
                            showers and thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................North winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            northeast in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Vilano Beach.............Low  11:42 AM EDT.
   St Augustine Beach.......Low  11:28 AM EDT.
                            High 05:58 PM EDT.
   Fernandina Beach.........Low  11:50 AM EDT.
   Mayport Naval Station....Low  11:26 AM EDT.
   Jacksonville Beach.......Low  11:44 AM EDT.

.EXTENDED...
.WEDNESDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Partly sunny. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. North winds around
10 mph. 
.THURSDAY...Surf height 4 to 6 feet. Partly sunny. Showers likely and
a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. North winds around
20 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Surf height 6 to 8 feet. Mostly sunny. A chance of showers.
Highs around 80. North winds around 20 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/jax

$$

GAZ154-166-220600-
Glynn-Camden-
Including the beaches of Brunswick, St. Simons, Country Club Estates, 
Dock Junction, St. Marys, and Kingsland
1100 AM EDT Mon Sep 21 2026

...A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS IS IN EFFECT...

.REST OF TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Moderate. 
Surf Height.................1 to 2 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
UV Index**..................Very High. 
Water Temperature...........80 to 85. 
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the upper 80s. 
Max Heat Index..............Up to 100. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
Tides...
   St Simons Island.........High  05:10 PM EDT.
   Brunswick GA.............Low  11:13 AM EDT.
                            High 05:34 PM EDT.
   Dungeness Seacamp........Low  11:08 AM EDT.
                            High 05:53 PM EDT.

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*...........Moderate. 
Surf Height.................1 to 2 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....Moderate. 
Weather.....................Mostly sunny. A chance of showers and 
                            thunderstorms. 
High Temperature............In the mid 80s. 
Winds.......................North winds around 5 mph, becoming east 
                            in the afternoon.
Tides...
   St Simons Island.........Low  11:38 AM EDT.
   Brunswick GA.............Low  12:05 PM EDT.
   Dungeness Seacamp........High  06:02 AM EDT.
                            Low 12:05 PM EDT.

.EXTENDED...
.WEDNESDAY...Surf height 1 to 2 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers likely
and a chance of thunderstorms. Highs in the mid 80s. Northeast winds
around 10 mph. 
.THURSDAY...Surf height 3 to 4 feet. Mostly sunny. A chance of
showers and thunderstorms. Highs in the lower 80s. Northeast winds
around 15 mph. 
.FRIDAY...Surf height 4 to 5 feet. Mostly sunny. Highs around 80.
Northeast winds around 15 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/jax


$$

The water now, measured

Buoy 41117, St. Augustine, FL (194), 16 mi away, reported 3:56 PM.

Waves: 2.0 ft at 11 seconds
Water temperature: 83 °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

Crescent Beach, Matanzas River, 3.3 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

High tide5:43 AM3.9 ft
Low tide11:52 AM1.2 ft
High tide6:18 PM4.6 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 Crescent Beach, Matanzas River.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 7:13 AM
Sunset today: 7:23 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 7:13 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 7:21 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.

Yulee
Fernandina Beach
Jacksonville Beach
Palm Coast
Palm Valley
Ponte Vedra Beach
Sawgrass
Vilano Beach
Anastasia
Crescent Beach
St. Augustine
St. Augustine South

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 moderate 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 JAX, issued 1100 AM EDT, 9/21/2026. 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 FLZ333.