Destin is flying yellow and purple flags today — the purple back up after two clear days, while Navarre and Pensacola have both gone green. Surf is 1.1 ft with light west-southwest winds at 3–11 mph and rip current risk at low. The heat continues: a Heat Advisory runs 11 AM to 8 PM with heat index values up to 108 degrees, a third straight day. Water is the warmest on the coast at 87°F.
The National Weather Service has a Heat Advisory in effect for Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa coastal counties from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM CDT today, with heat index values up to 108 degrees. This is the third consecutive day under advisory. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illness. Drink water steadily rather than waiting until you are thirsty, wear lightweight loose clothing, and keep strenuous activity to the early morning or evening. Take breaks in shade or air conditioning — a beach umbrella alone is not enough at these numbers.
Watch for heat exhaustion: heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, nausea or confusion. Anyone showing those signs should get to a cool shaded place and drink water immediately. If someone becomes unresponsive or loses consciousness, call 911 — heat stroke is a medical emergency. Check on elderly neighbours and anyone with health conditions, and never leave children or pets in a parked car.
Three days of accumulated heat exposure matters. If you have been out in it since Thursday, you are starting today already behind on fluids — drink more than usual, not the same amount.
The National Weather Service has rip current risk at low today with surf around a foot, and it holds low through Sunday. Low risk does not mean no risk: life-threatening rip currents still form near piers, jetties and groins on the calmest days, so give those structures room and swim near a lifeguard. Risk climbs back to moderate from Monday as surf builds toward 2 to 3 feet.
Yellow means moderate hazard: moderate surf, moderate currents, or both. Swimming is allowed but calls for caution. With surf at 1.1 ft and rip risk at low, the yellow flag is a local lifeguard call rather than anything in the regional forecast — most likely current near the pass, which is why Destin often reads a notch above the beaches to its west. Destin has now flown yellow every day for over two weeks. Stay close to shore, swim near a lifeguard, and give the East Pass jetties room.
The purple flag is back up at Destin today after two clear days, meaning dangerous marine life has been reported — typically jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-war this time of year. It is an additional warning on top of the yellow flag, not a downgrade of it. Man-of-war tentacles still sting after the animal washes ashore, so avoid anything stranded on the sand and keep children and dogs away from it. Shuffle your feet in the shallows for rays.
Is It Safe to Swim at Destin Today?
Yes, with caution. Surf is 1.1 ft, rip current risk is low and the water is a warm 87°F, so conditions are easy. The yellow flag means normal care — stay near a lifeguard and clear of the pass. The purple flag is new today, so stinging marine life is back in the water and worth watching for. The heat is the day's main hazard: at a heat index of 108, the sea breeze masks how quickly you are dehydrating. Drink steadily, take shade breaks, and favour before 11 AM or after 8 PM.
Full Conditions Breakdown
| Condition | Reading |
|---|---|
| Beach flag | Yellow — moderate hazard, plus purple for dangerous marine life |
| Heat Advisory | In effect 11 AM – 8 PM CDT, heat index up to 108°F |
| Rip current risk | Low |
| Water temperature | 87°F |
| Air temperature | Low 82°F / High 91°F |
| Wind | W-SW at 3–11 mph |
| Wave height | 1.1 ft |
| Chance of rain | 20% daytime / 25% nighttime |
| UV index | Very high |
| Solunar rating | High activity |
Destin Tides Today
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High tide | 2:03 PM | 0.53 ft |
| Low tide | 8:58 PM | 0.28 ft |
Destin runs a much smaller tidal range than Navarre or Pensacola, and today's swing is a quarter of a foot — the narrowest of the fortnight. The 2:03 PM high is the latest of the three and lands in the hottest part of the advisory window; the 8:58 PM low comes just after it lifts, which makes the evening the more comfortable session for anyone fishing. Full tide charts are on the live tides page.
7-Day Outlook
Sunday stays mostly sunny with highs near 92°F, light southwest winds and a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Rip current risk holds at low through Sunday with surf around a foot. From Monday the water changes: the National Weather Service raises rip current risk to moderate through midweek, with surf building to 2 to 3 feet and west winds picking up. Monday stays predominantly sunny near 93°F. Heat remains the other story — advisory-level conditions have run three days now and further advisories are likely, so check the current one before heading out.
More Emerald Coast Conditions Today
Also posted this morning: Navarre Beach conditions, Pensacola Beach conditions and today's fishing report.