Escambia County Surf Warning Flag System

As Memorial Day Weekend approaches, the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards urge visitors to familiarize themselves with the beach surf warning flag system.

The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards fly surf warning flags in several locations along Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key. The colored flag system measures the following surf risks:

• Green flag - Low Hazard: Generally calm surf and currents
• Yellow flag - Medium Hazard: Moderate surf and/or currents
• Red flag - High Hazard: High surf and/or dangerous currents; beach patrons encouraged to remain out of the water
• Double red flag - Water Closed: No swimming or wading  
• Purple flag - Stinging Marine Life: Flown when jellyfish, Portuguese man o' war or other stinging marine life are present

The beach surf warning flags are located at the following areas:

• Entrance of Pensacola Beach south of the Bob Sikes Bridge Toll facility
• End of the Pensacola Beach Gulf Pier
• Casino Beach
• Fort Pickens gate
• Midway between Portofino Towers and Park East
• Park East
• Lifeguard towers
• Lifeguard roving patrol vehicles
• Opal Beach Entrance Station
• Fort Pickens Entrance Station
• Johnson Beach Entrance Station

Beginning Saturday, May 24, the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards will begin guarding the beach public access points along Perdido Key. A beach surf warning flag will be displayed at all public access points and at the lifeguard tower stationed at Beach Access #2.

Sign Up for Pensacola Beach Surf Warning Flag Text Alerts

The Pensacola Beach Lifeguards send out daily surf warning flag text alerts to update daily beach conditions. If beach conditions change throughout the day, a separate text is sent to reflect the change.

To sign up, text “PBFLAGS” to 888-777.

Once registered, a confirmation text from Everbridge Nixle Alerts will be sent along with a welcome message from the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards. Respond to the text message with your email address to receive email alerts. Text "STOP" to 888-777 to discontinue receiving daily notifications.

Please note that the absence of a beach flag does not assure water safety. For daily flag conditions and more information about Pensacola Beach Lifeguards, visit MyEscambia.com or the Pensacola Beach Lifeguards Facebook page.

Click here to watch a video explaining the flag system on Pensacola Beach.