Good morning, this is your Thursday surf zone forecast for the Big Bend coast. We're tracking some exciting water conditions as a strong high pressure system keeps things pleasant on the surface while a southeasterly swell builds underneath.

Here's what's happening: brisk winds over the Gulf are churning up a southeasterly swell that's generating around two to three feet of surf for most beaches, with the exception of west-facing Gulf County beaches which are seeing closer to one foot. The story here is the rip currents, folks. We have a HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK in effect through late Saturday night, and this is a serious situation.

Let's break down what that means for each area. In South Walton, including Sandestin, Santa Rosa Beach, and Turquoise Beach, expect three foot surf with high rip current risk today and Friday. The water sits at a pleasant seventy-one degrees, and we're looking at sunny skies with highs in the mid seventies. Southeast winds around fifteen miles per hour will keep things moving. But those rip currents will be LIKELY in the surf zone, so please use extreme caution.

Moving east to the Coastal Bay area around Panama City Beach and Magnolia Beach, conditions are similar with three foot surf and high rip current risk. Water temperatures are also seventy-one degrees, and we'll see mostly sunny skies until mid-morning Friday before clouds increase. This area will see slightly warmer highs in the upper seventies today.

Down in Coastal Gulf near Saint Joe Beach, we get more nuanced conditions. West-facing beaches will see around one foot of surf with moderate rip current risk, while south-facing beaches are looking at two foot surf with HIGH rip current risk. State park beaches split the difference at one foot with moderate risk. Temperatures here are slightly warmer at seventy-two degrees.

Finally, in Coastal Franklin around Apalachicola, we're seeing around two feet of surf today with high rip current risk throughout. Water temperatures are the warmest at seventy-three degrees, and southeast winds are a bit lighter at ten to fifteen miles per hour.

Saturday looks even more impressive for the rip current potential. The risk will maximize as afternoon and evening flows become more onshore. High rip current risk extends across all areas with mostly sunny skies. Surf heights hold steady around two to three feet depending on your location.

Sunday brings a change. A cold front approaches, introducing mostly cloudy skies and chances of showers and thunderstorms. Despite this change, high rip current risk continues through most beaches. Winds flip to the south and lighten up significantly around five miles per hour.

By Monday, we transition to moderate rip current risk in most areas, with the Coastal Gulf zone holding onto high risk. North winds increase to around fifteen to twenty miles per hour, and temperatures drop into the upper sixties to lower seventies as that cold front moves through.

The bottom line: we have dangerous

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.