What do the flags mean at Clearwater Beach?


What do the flags mean at Clearwater Beach? Green Flag: Low hazard, calm conditions. Yellow Flag: Medium hazard with moderate surf or currents. Red Flag: High hazard, with high surf or strong currents; when these conditions are present, lifeguards may ask swimmers to get out of the water.


How do they determine beach flags?

Shepard says that each day safety officers go out to the beaches to look at the surf, check local weather observations, wave swells, and the National Weather Service's rip current risk. He stresses that the most important thing is “to look at the water itself” and how it is behaving.


Can you go on the beach with a red flag?

Red Flag – Red Flags flying mean that the waters have high surf and you should stay out of the water. You can still play in the sand, relax in your beach chair or take a walk along the beach! Just don't get in, unless you are a surfer with a personal floatation device.


Why are yellow flags up at Clearwater Beach?

Informational signs like this are posted at public beaches along with the warning flags. Yellow flags mean some rip current activity is expected. You should be cautious if entering the water, don't swim alone, and know what to do if caught in a rip current.


Why is everyone coughing at Clearwater Beach?

Some people experience respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, tearing and an itchy throat) when the red tide organism, Karenia brevis , is present and winds blow onshore. Offshore winds usually keep respiratory effects experienced by those on the shore to a minimum.


Can you drink alcohol on clearwater beaches?

No alcohol is permitted on Clearwater's public beaches.