Pensacola marine forecast
The bay, the sound and the Gulf, and whether to paddle
TodayOn the water
This reading is more than 3 hours old. Check the flag at the lifeguard stand and the National Weather Service before you swim.
Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Sound
- TonightSoutheast winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots, diminishing to 5 to 10 knots late. Waves 1 foot or less. A moderate chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms this evening. A chance of showers. A chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
- FridayEast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. A moderate chop. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
- Friday NightEast winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.
Perdido Bay and Big Lagoon
- TonightSoutheast winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots, diminishing to 5 to 10 knots late. Waves 1 foot or less. A moderate chop. A slight chance of thunderstorms this evening. A chance of showers. A chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
- FridayEast winds 5 to 10 knots, becoming southeast 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots in the afternoon. Waves 1 foot or less. A moderate chop. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
- Friday NightEast winds 5 to 10 knots. Waves 1 foot or less. Light chop. A chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.
The Gulf, Pensacola to Destin, out 20 nautical miles
- TonightSoutheast winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 3 feet at 5 seconds. A slight chance of thunderstorms this evening. A chance of showers. A chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
- FridaySoutheast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 4 feet at 6 seconds. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
- Friday NightSoutheast winds around 10 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 4 feet at 7 seconds. A chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.
The Gulf, Pensacola west to Pascagoula, out 20 nautical miles
- TonightSoutheast winds 10 to 15 knots with gusts up to 20 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 3 feet at 5 seconds. A slight chance of thunderstorms this evening. A chance of showers. A chance of thunderstorms after midnight.
- FridaySoutheast winds 10 to 15 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 4 feet at 6 seconds. Showers with a chance of thunderstorms.
- Friday NightSoutheast winds around 10 knots. Seas 3 to 4 feet, occasionally to 5 feet. Wave Detail: Southeast 4 feet at 7 seconds. A chance of thunderstorms. A chance of showers in the evening, then showers likely after midnight.
From the NWS Coastal Waters Forecast (Mobile and Tallahassee), issued 302 PM CDT Thu Oct 1 2026.
Snorkel and paddleboard, Friday, October 2
- Perdido Key Artificial ReefsSnorkel Poor, paddleboard Poor
- Johnson Beach (Gulf Islands)Snorkel Poor, paddleboard Poor
- Big Lagoon State ParkSnorkel Good, paddleboard Good
- Fort Pickens Snorkel AreaSnorkel Poor, paddleboard Poor
- Casino Beach Pier ReefSnorkel Poor, paddleboard Poor
- Park West Snorkel ReefSnorkel Good, paddleboard Good
- Park East Snorkel ReefSnorkel Poor, paddleboard Poor
- Navarre Sound WestSnorkel Poor, paddleboard Poor
- Navarre Sound EastSnorkel Poor, paddleboard Poor
- Navarre Beach Marine Sanctuary ReefSnorkel Poor, paddleboard Poor
Rated by the Reef Check rule from the marine forecast's waves and wind and the recent rain, which clouds the water. A rating is an estimate; look at the water before you go in.
Red tide
- Santa Rosa CountyNot present, sampled 9/30 at Navarre Pier
- Okaloosa CountyNot present, sampled 9/29 at Eglin Beach Park; 4.4 mi S of
- Walton CountyNot present, sampled 9/29 at Grayton Beach
- Escambia CountyNot present, sampled 9/29 at Sand Island; NE of (Pensacola Bay)
From FWC red tide sampling.
Advisories
Rip Current Statement issued October 1 at 6:33 PM CDT until October 4 at 7:00 PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Rip Current Statement issued October 1 at 3:30 AM EDT until October 3 at 8:00 AM EDT by NWS Tallahassee FL
The beachSwimming instead?
The flag the lifeguards posted is on Pensacola Beach flag today, and the best fishing times are on Pensacola fishing times today.
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