Click the map below for a detailed, zone based Coastal Waters Forecast

For the recently added St Andrews Bay Zone Forecast, click on the St Andrews Bay in the map above for a Marine Weather Forecast. For more information on recently changed marine zones, and the reasoning, please view this webpage here.

Nearshore Marine Forecasts

• Follow this link for Coastal Waters Forecast options beyond the map above 

Offshore Marine Forecasts

• Follow this link for Offshore Waters Forecast options beyond the map above

Click a point below for a detailed Hourly Weather Graph

If you need a forecast for a point not represented above...

• Navigate to this link and click the map for a detailed forecast in both tabular and graphical formats.

Learn About Rip Current Safety Before Visiting The Beach!

For a graphical forecast, visit weather.gov/beach/tae or see the county based surf zone forecast below:

Detailed Surf Zone Forecast

215
FZUS52 KTAE 160728
SRFTAE

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Tallahassee FL
328 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

.THE SURF ZONE FORECAST GENERAL OUTLOOK...

Gusty winds ahead of and behind a strong cold front will make for a
high risk of rip currents through tonight at all local beaches. The
risk slackens heading into mid-week to a moderate risk. Beachgoers are
urged to follow the beach flags, especially during Spring Break time.
If double red flags are flying, it means that the waters are closed to
the public, not the beaches.

FLZ108-162015-
South Walton-
Including the beaches of Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach,
and Turquoise Beach
228 AM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............High.
Surf Height.................Around 4 feet.
UV Index**..................High.
Water Temperature...........69 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy until 4 PM, then mostly
sunny. Showers and a chance of
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the upper 60s.
Winds.......................Breezy. Northwest winds around 25 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 06:12 AM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:52 AM.
Sunset......................7:54 PM.

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............In the mid 50s.
Winds.......................North winds 15 to 20 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 06:13 AM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:51 AM.
Sunset......................7:54 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
Northeast winds around 5 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
West 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 lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae

$$

FLZ112-162015-
Coastal Bay-
Including the beaches of Panama City Beach and Magnolia Beach
228 AM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............High.
Surf Height.................Around 4 feet.
UV Index**..................High.
Water Temperature...........68 degrees.
Weather.....................Partly sunny. Showers likely and a
chance of thunderstorms.
High Temperature............Around 70.
Winds.......................Breezy. Southwest winds around 25 mph,
becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 06:12 AM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:50 AM.
Sunset......................7:52 PM.

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............High.
Surf Height.................Around 2 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............In the mid 50s.
Winds.......................North winds 15 to 20 mph.
Tides...
Panama City..............Low at 06:13 AM CDT.
Sunrise.....................7:49 AM.
Sunset......................7:52 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
Northwest 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 lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae

$$

FLZ114-162015-
Coastal Gulf-
Including the beaches of Saint Joe Beach
328 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026 /228 AM CDT Mon Mar 16 2026/

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk...
W Facing Beaches.........High.
S Facing Beaches.........High.
State Park Beaches.......High.
Surf Height...
W Facing Beaches.........Around 4 feet.
S Facing Beaches.........Around 3 feet.
State Park Beaches.......Around 5 feet.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........69 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Showers and a chance of
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............In the lower 70s.
Winds.......................Breezy. Southwest winds around 25 mph,
becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 09:47 AM EDT.
High at 04:32 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:49 AM.
Sunset......................7:50 PM.

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk...
W Facing Beaches.........High.
S Facing Beaches.........High.
State Park Beaches.......High.
Surf Height...
W Facing Beaches.........Around 4 feet.
S Facing Beaches.........Around 2 feet.
State Park Beaches.......Around 4 feet.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............In the mid 50s.
Winds.......................North winds 15 to 20 mph.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 10:20 AM EDT.
High at 04:36 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:48 AM.
Sunset......................7:51 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...High rip current risk*. Surf height around 2 feet.
Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 15 mph.
.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...High rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
Northwest 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 lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae

$$

FLZ115-162015-
Coastal Franklin-
Including the beaches of Apalachicola
328 AM EDT Mon Mar 16 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............High.
Surf Height.................Around 3 feet.
UV Index**..................Very High.
Water Temperature...........70 degrees.
Weather.....................Mostly cloudy. Showers and a chance of
thunderstorms.
High Temperature............Around 70.
Winds.......................Breezy. Southwest winds around 20 mph,
becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 09:47 AM EDT.
High at 04:32 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:47 AM.
Sunset......................7:49 PM.

.TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Moderate.
Surf Height.................Around 1 foot.
Weather.....................Mostly sunny.
High Temperature............In the mid 50s.
Winds.......................North winds around 20 mph, diminishing
to around 10 mph in the afternoon.
Tides...
Apalachicola.............Low at 10:20 AM EDT.
High at 04:36 PM EDT.
Sunrise.....................7:46 AM.
Sunset......................7:49 PM.

.WEDNESDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Surf height around 1 foot.
Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.THURSDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.
Northeast winds around 10 mph.
.FRIDAY...Moderate rip current risk*. Sunny. Highs in the upper 60s.
North 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 lightning, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/tae


$$

628
SOUS42 KTAE 160001
TIDTAE

Tide information for Monday March 16 2026.

Saint Marks River Entrance.
High 01:05 AM ... Low 07:46 AM ... High 02:09 PM ... Low 07:50 PM.

Apalachicola.
High 01:58 AM ... Low 09:47 AM ... High 04:32 PM ... Low 09:33 PM.

Saint Andrews Bay at Panama City.
Low 06:12 AM ... High 09:39 PM.

Note that the times of high and low tide are 3 minutes earlier at
Shell Point than at the Saint Marks River Entrance.

The average water temperature at Apalachicola was 69.8 degrees.
Sunrise and sunset in Tallahassee.
March 16 2026: Sunrise 746 AM EDT Sunset 746 PM EDT

More Information on Tides and SST's

• NOAA Tides Website (zoom in to the area of interest for a point)

Are you interested in receiving occasional marine-related news from NWS-Tallahassee or becoming a Weather Ready Nation (WRN) Marine Ambassador?

Fill out the NWS-Tallahassee Marine Contact Form (linked)!

For questions, please contact: Lance.Franck@noaa.gov

Weather Slides for Presentation Above

Navigation Slides for Presentation Above

Other information

• Marine Modeling and Analysis Branch
• Rip Current Safety Info
• Beaufort Scale (descriptions; color photos)
• Boating Safety
• U.S. Coast Guard
• National Geodetic Survery
• Port Meteorological Officers' Volunteer Observing Ship (VOS) Program
• NWS Marine Weather Services
• Frequently Asked Questions