Beaches along the coast, stretching from Alabama to Destin, are currently under double red flag warning. This means that the beaches are closed for public access as high surf advisories are expected in the Gulf of Mexico. It is highly likely that the closure will remain in effect until Thursday.
According to Cody Lindsey, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mobile, it is important for individuals to prioritize their safety by paying attention to beach flags and following the instructions of lifeguards.
According to officials responsible for beach safety in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, people refrained from going into the Gulf on Tuesday.
On Monday, although there were several rescues that could be labeled as “minor”, it is important to note that they were still significant in terms of safety. Additionally, on Sunday, a 23-year-old man from Mississippi tragically drowned in Gulf Shores. This occurred despite the presence of a red flag, which was meant to warn beachgoers about the dangerous conditions of the Gulf.
Joethan Phillips, the beach safety chief of Gulf Shores Fire Rescue, stated that they have no intention of shutting down the water.
“We use the double red flag to signify that it’s not safe to be in the water. It’s important for people to understand the seriousness of the situation. Even if the weather seems nice and sunny, we still want to make sure everyone is aware of the potential danger. We understand that visitors spend a lot of money to come here, but our top priority is to ensure their safety and that they return home safely.”
According to Brett Lesinger, the beach safety division chief for the City of Orange Beach, people have been following the rules as the beach is currently experiencing harsh weather conditions. With winds gusting at 20-25 mph and the surf rising to about 5-7 feet, the beach is not very welcoming. Lesinger also mentioned that the usual surf in the Gulf in Alabama is around 2 feet.
He mentioned that being out there for long is quite challenging due to the strong winds.
According to Lesinger, Monday’s building surf caused some injuries among a few individuals.
According to him, the red flags that were hoisted on Monday to indicate high hazards in the Gulf, including strong rip currents and high surf, should not be taken lightly. He emphasized that only the most skilled swimmers should venture into the water when such flags are flying.
Lesinger expressed his frustration with the frequent closure of the water, stating that it is unfair to those who are skilled enough to swim in it. He mentioned that the constant closures ruin the experience for them.
According to Lindsey, the turbulent waters are a result of two factors. Firstly, there is a possible tropical cyclone forming in the Gulf, which is expected to hit Mexico on Thursday and impact South Texas. Secondly, a high-ridge system is developing in the Atlantic Ocean, and the combination of the two is causing rough waves along the northern Gulf.
The rip current risk is expected to last through Friday, and high surf advisories will persist until Wednesday and Thursday. The decision to keep the beaches open or closed will be left to the lifeguards in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.
Linsey predicts that due to the high surf, the beach will most likely be closed on Wednesday with the double red flags flying.
According to Phillips, the Gulf Shores team will evaluate the situation of the Gulf on Wednesday morning, but he expects to maintain the double red flags. “That’s what we’re expecting,” he stated.
According to Lesinger, the decision to close beaches is primarily based on the high surf advisories reported by the NWS. Beach safety chiefs rely heavily on this information to determine whether or not it is safe for people to go to the beach.
According to him, a 5-foot surf on our coastline is considered big.
According to Lesinger, double red flags are currently flying along the Alabama beaches for the first time since April. This has only occurred eight times over the past 100 days in Orange Beach.
Lesinger stated that even though the tropical storm is still 600 miles away, many beaches from Gulf Shores to Panama City are flying double reds, indicating that it is not safe to swim. He emphasized that this is due to the magnitude of the storm.