Red Flags Flying On Popular Gulf Coast Beaches This Week

(KMDL-FM) Here in Louisiana, the last day of school was last week. That means about half of the state's population is either on the way to Disney World, at Disney World, or on a beach somewhere between here and Disney World.  For those who are visiting "The Mouse," you've got your own concerns. But, for those visiting a Gulf Coast Beach this week, you might be facing a life and death situation.

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On Memorial Day, red flags were the rule along many of the popular beaches of Alabama and Florida. If you're not familiar with the flag system for beach safety, it's pretty simple and pretty straightforward. Red means stop. As in stop, don't go in the water, you might die.

What Do The Different Colored Flags at the Beach Mean?

A double red flag means the water is closed to the public. A single red flag means high hazards, strong currents, strong surf, don't go in. Yellow flags on the beach mean a medium hazard; only experienced swimmers should go in the water, but even that is discouraged.  Green means low hazards and calm conditions, which is what you want when you're at the beach with your family.

A purple flag at the beach means dangerous marine life. That could be jellyfish, stingrays, dangerous fish, and, recently, a lot more often than we'd like, sharks.

READ MORE: Shark Alert System Now Operational For Gulf Coast Beaches

The reason for all the brightly colored flags along the beaches of Florida and Alabama is the high risk of rip currents offshore. On Monday, rip currents were reported near Orange Beach, prompting officials to ask you to stay out of the Gulf. Just look at the surf in that picture. I can see why.

Since many of you are either on vacation or know or love someone who is probably on vacation at the beach, would you mind sharing this information with them? Every year, rip currents take innocent lives, and quite often, it's the individual who rushes into the water to save a potential victim who pays the ultimate price.

Where is the Current Rip Current Danger Along the Gulf Coast?

So, stay out of the Gulf when instructed to do so, and to be honest, don't plan on getting into the Gulf this week. Here's the rip current forecast from the National Weather Service Office out of Mobile/Pensacola. 

If there is a silver lining to the rip current scenario along the beaches of Florida and Alabama, it would be that there is also a Flood Watch for the area. Perhaps the abundance of rain will keep people off the beaches and closer to the condo and resort pools than the Gulf. 

The bottom line is this: even if you're a great swimmer, you are no match for Mother Nature and her rip currents. Please listen and pay attention to all beach advisories and warnings. Of course, you could always opt for beaches that are closer to home, just be cognizant of what's going on with the weather and in the water.