Photo: Jupiter Tide
By Jupiter Tide Staff
Before you put a toe in the water at a Jupiter-area beach, look up at the lifeguard tower. The colored flag flying there is the quickest way to know how rough the ocean is that day.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue's Ocean Rescue lifeguards fly the flags at county beach parks, and the system follows the national standard used by the U.S. Lifesaving Association. Here's what each one means, according to Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation.
What each beach flag means
Green: low hazard. The water is calm. Use normal care.
Yellow: medium hazard. Moderate surf or currents. Watch for shorebreak, rip currents or currents running along the shore, baitfish, debris, drop-offs or rocks.
Red: high hazard. Rough surf or strong currents. The county says swimming is for experienced ocean swimmers only.
Double red: water closed to the public. Nobody goes in. The county flies it for severe surf or currents, pollution, lightning, sharks or heavy machinery on the beach.
Purple: dangerous marine life. Often means Portuguese man-of-war are around. It can fly alongside any of the other flags.
At Juno Beach Park, surfers have one more flag to know: they may surf inside the guarded area only when the orange-and-white checkered surfing flag is up.
No flag doesn't mean safe
The county is blunt about this: the absence of flags "does not assure safe waters." Conditions change by the day and sometimes by the hour. County beaches also post condition boards near the beach accesses, listing the day's water conditions, tides and hazards. When in doubt, ask the lifeguard.
Where lifeguards are on duty in north county
Ocean Rescue guards 14 oceanfront and inlet parks from Tequesta to Boca Raton. In the Jupiter area, the county lists these guarded parks:
Coral Cove Park, Tequesta
DuBois Park, Jupiter (guarded only on weekends during the public school year)
Jupiter Beach Park, Jupiter
Carlin Park, Jupiter
Ocean Cay Park, Jupiter
Juno Beach Park, Juno Beach
At most parks, lifeguards are on duty year-round, seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5:20 p.m., with some exceptions. A flag on the tower means the swimming area is guarded. Town of Jupiter beach access points between the parks don't have lifeguards.
If you're caught in a rip current
The county's advice: swim parallel to the shore, then swim back in. If you can't, stay calm, float with the current, yell for help and wave an arm so a lifeguard can see you. Swim near a lifeguard, and watch children closely even when guards are on duty.
This week's flags
It has been a rough-water week along the coast, with big surf, king tides and beach erosion. As of Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, the National Weather Service in Miami has a high rip current risk and a coastal flood advisory for coastal Palm Beach County through 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, plus a high surf advisory and coastal flood warning through 8 p.m. Wednesday. Flags can change through the day, so check the tower when you arrive. Our latest beach coverage: https://www.jupitertide.com/p/jupiter-civic-center-closed-beach-erosion
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Jupiter Tide is a local news site covering Jupiter, Tequesta and Palm Beach Gardens: town news, public safety, schools, business and things to do. Follow us on Facebook, X and Instagram (@JupiterTideNews), and sign up for our free weekly newsletter, delivered every Thursday morning: jupitertide.com/subscribe