Rip Current in Florida

Events

677

Deaths

518

Injuries

450

Damage

None recorded

• Tornadoes and Tropical Storm in Florida, June 24 to 30, 20126 deaths · 8 injured · $27 million · EF2 · 40 eventsTropical Storm Debby lingered for several days over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and caused high winds and heavy rain before making landfall near Steinhatchee, FL on the 26th.
• Rip Currents in Florida, June 21 to 24, 20237 deaths · 5 eventsPersistent moderate onshore flow led to numerous rip currents for a multi-day period. The strongest rip current occurred between June 15-24 where unfortunately several fatalities occurred.
• Rip Currents in Florida, June 20 to 23, 20246 deaths · 3 eventsOn June 20, a 19-year-old man vacationing from Oklahoma got caught in a rip current and drowned behind Sharky's during the afternoon. Single red beach flags were flying at the time and a rip current statement was in effect.
• Rip Current in Florida, June 8, 20036 deaths · 1 eventAt least 28 people were rescued from rough surf off the Walton County beaches. Six persons drowned. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
• Rip Currents in Florida, July 14 to 15, 20195 deaths · 4 eventsThe South Walton Fire Department Beach Safety Director confirmed the death of a 53 year old male from Tennessee as a direct result of being caught in a rip current. From some accounts, it's possible the individual was trying to rescue his daughter.
• Rip Currents in Florida, June 8 to 11, 20134 deaths · 7 injured · 5 eventsThe Panama City News Herald reported a rip current fatality occurred at Panama City Beach around 7 pm June 8th as well as three rescues that required hospitalization around 5 pm June 9th.
• Rip Currents in Florida, May 23 to 25, 20154 deaths · 7 injured · 4 eventsEnhanced onshore flow created rough surf and numerous strong rip currents that kept local beach patrols extremely busy during the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
• Rip Currents in Florida, August 1 to 5, 20183 deaths · 8 injured · 5 eventsIt was a deadly 4 day period of rip currents across coastal Alabama and the western Florida Panhandle. From August 1st to August 5th, six people were killed along the stretch of coast from Dauphin Island, AL to Destin, FL. 3 occurred in Alabama and 3 occurred in Florida.
• Rip Currents in Florida, May 27 to 30, 20073 deaths · 3 injured · 3 eventsThree people drowned at southeast Florida beaches over the Memorial Day weekend as a result of rip currents. East winds of 15 to 20 mph persisted for several days and caused favorable conditions for numerous rip currents.
• Storm Surge and Flash Flooding in Florida, June 6 to 7, 20163 deaths · 1 injured · $5,000 · 14 eventsTropical Storm Colin made landfall across the southeast big bend during the overnight hours of June 6-7. Damage was relatively minor across the region. In Leon county, seven roads were closed on Monday afternoon due to flooding.
• Rip Currents in Florida, August 3 to 4, 20083 deaths · 2 injured · 3 eventsThree men drowned from rip currents at Panama City Beach on August 3 and 4.
• Rip Currents in Florida, August 31, 20083 deaths · 1 injured · 2 eventsStrong winds caused by the outer circulation of Hurricane Gustav produced rip currents along the Atlantic coast of South Florida. These rip currents produced multiple fatalities, one injury, and caused around 15 rescues.
• Rip Currents in Florida, April 6, 20233 deaths · 3 eventsA 16 year old male and an adult male in his 50s both died trying to save a 12 year old boy from rip currents in Perdido Key. They were family friends visiting from Atlanta. The 12 year old died a week later at Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola.
• Rip Currents in Florida, May 15, 20103 deaths · 2 eventsPersistent high pressure over the western Atlantic produced moderate to strong east winds across south Florida. This led to the development of strong rip currents along the east coast beaches.
• Rip Current in Florida, April 8, 20212 deaths · 9 injured · 1 eventThere were 2 fatalities and 9 injuries due to rip currents. Beach flags were single red initially and changed to double red at 6 pm CT due to EMS being overwhelmed. Both fatalities were citizen rescuers.
• Rip Currents in Florida, March 13 to 15, 20152 deaths · 6 injured · 3 eventsDuring the week of March 8th through the 14th, onshore flow along the Atlantic coast resulted in strong rip currents at the beaches. Beach attendance was heavy each day due to spring break with many rescues and a couple of drownings.
• Rip Currents in Florida, April 1 to 5, 20262 deaths · 4 injured · 3 eventsPersistently strong onshore wind flow led to rip currents along the Atlantic beaches of South Florida in early April.
• Rip Current in Florida, June 6, 20012 deaths · 2 injured · 1 eventA 59 year old male from Tennessee and his daughters father in-law, a 60 year old male from Great Britain, both drowned while swimming in rough waters near the Santa Rosa and Escambia county lines.
• Rip Current in Florida, August 12, 20102 deaths · 2 injured · 1 eventThe remnants of Tropical Depression 5 were in place across the northern Gulf of Mexico with a strong south to southwest wind flow in place across the area. Choppy seas of four to six feet caused large breaking waves along area beaches and increased the risk for rip currents.
• Rip Currents in Florida, May 22 to 24, 20212 deaths · 1 injured · 6 eventsPersistent easterly winds combined with elevated surf over the weekend created a High Rip Current risk along local NE FL beaches and resulted in numerous ocean rescues.
• Rip Currents in Florida, April 25 to 26, 20092 deaths · 1 injured · 2 eventsStrong high pressure over the western Atlantic produced a strong easterly wind flow the weekend of April 25 and 26. This led to the development of strong and dangerous rip currents along the southeast Florida Atlantic beaches.
• Rip Currents in Florida, August 18, 20132 deaths · 1 injured · 2 eventsThe northern extent of a weak tropical wave over the northwest Bahamas produced breezy onshore winds along the southeast Florida coast with dangerous rip currents at the beaches.
• Rip Current in Florida, May 17, 20162 deaths · 1 injured · 1 eventModerate onshore winds led to rip currents at the Atlantic beaches of South Florida.
• Rip Currents in Florida, May 2 to 3, 20022 deaths · 2 eventsA man drowned after he was caught in a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
• Rip Currents in Florida, March 22, 20072 deaths · 2 eventsFifty rip currents were reported in the waters off Walton County by the South Walton County Fire District during the afternoon of March 22. These rip currents were directly responsible for the drownings of two men, one at Grayton Beach, and the other at Miramar Beach.

Rip Current everywhereEvery kind of event in Florida

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.