Yellow and purple flags at Navarre Beach today. Water is 86°F with variable northwest to west winds at 2–15 mph and waves at 1.4 ft. Rain chances have climbed to 40 percent and highs reach 93°F. The Extreme Heat Warning has expired and today runs under a Heat Advisory instead, with heat index values of 110 to 111 — easier than yesterday, but still the seventh straight day of dangerous heat.
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 of 110 to 111 degrees. This is a step down from yesterday's Extreme Heat Warning, but it is still the seventh consecutive day of advisory-level or warning-level heat. 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 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.
A week of accumulated exposure is the part to take seriously. Overnight lows have stayed in the low 80s, so there has been little recovery between days and fluid deficit has been building since last Thursday. Shorten the session rather than pushing through it.
The most recent National Weather Service guidance covering today put rip current risk at moderate with surf around 2 feet. Moderate means life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone. Swim near a lifeguard, stay within your depth, and keep clear of piers, jetties and groins where currents concentrate. If you are caught in one, do not swim against it: swim parallel to shore until you are out of the pull, then come in at an angle. Check the live page before you go in — conditions can be re-rated during the day.
Yellow means moderate hazard: moderate surf, moderate currents, or both. Swimming is allowed but calls for caution. At 1.4 ft with rip current risk at moderate, the flag and the forecast agree. Stay close to shore, swim near a lifeguard, and keep weaker swimmers and children within arm's reach.
The purple flag is up alongside the yellow, meaning dangerous marine life has been reported in the water — on this coast in August that usually means jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-war. Purple is an additional warning, not a downgrade of the yellow flag. Man-of-war tentacles still sting after the animal washes ashore, so give anything stranded on the sand a wide berth and keep children and dogs away from it. Shuffle your feet in the shallows for rays.
Is It Safe to Swim at Navarre Beach Today?
With caution. Surf is 1.4 ft, the yellow flag means moderate hazard, and rip current risk is moderate — swim near a lifeguard, stay within your depth, and give the pier structure room. The purple flag means stinging marine life is in the water. The heat has eased from yesterday's warning but a heat index of 110 is still dangerous, so keep the session short and take shade breaks. With a 40 percent rain chance, afternoon storms are a real prospect — leave the water at the first sound of thunder.
Full Conditions Breakdown
| Condition | Reading |
|---|---|
| Heat Advisory | In effect 11 AM – 8 PM CDT, heat index 110–111°F |
| Beach flag | Yellow — moderate hazard, plus purple for dangerous marine life |
| Rip current risk | Moderate |
| Water temperature | 86°F |
| Air temperature | Low 81°F / High 93°F |
| Wind | NW-SW-W at 2–15 mph |
| Wave height | 1.4 ft |
| Chance of rain | 40% daytime / 25% nighttime |
| Solunar rating | High activity |
Navarre Beach Pier Today
Solunar activity is back up to high — the best rating in several days — and ladyfish and hardtail are working the pier pilings, deeper troughs and outer sandbars. The 2:54 PM low sits inside the advisory window on a deck with no shade, so the early morning on the falling tide is the better session. Watch the radar too at a 40 percent rain chance. Contact Navarre Beach Marine Park for current pier hours and access.
Navarre Beach Tides Today
| Tide | Time | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High tide | 2:07 AM | 1.63 ft |
| Low tide | 2:54 PM | 0.40 ft |
The overnight high of 1.63 ft falls almost thirteen hours to a 0.40 ft low mid-afternoon — a wide swing with real current behind it, and the widest of the three beaches today. Full tide charts are on the live tides page.
7-Day Outlook
Thursday should improve with reduced rain chances and lighter winds, heat index values as high as 109°F. Friday brings mostly sunny conditions with a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1 PM. Saturday nudges rain probability up to 40 percent with highs near 90°F and northwest winds at 5–10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon. The extended period stays warm with typical August patterns — occasional afternoon moisture, calm early mornings, and temperatures in the low 90s.
More Emerald Coast Conditions Today
Also posted this morning: Pensacola Beach conditions, Destin conditions and today's fishing report.