City of Fort Lauderdale - Ocean Rescue
City of Fort Lauderdale - Ocean Rescue
Ocean Rescue Lifeguard Tower
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Ocean Rescue

Committed to Ensuring Public Safety on Fort Lauderdale Beach

Lifeguard TowerFort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue is committed to helping you have a safe and enjoyable visit at our world-famous beach.

Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue supervises three miles of continuous public beach from the South Beach Picnic Area up to and including the beach in front of Hugh Taylor Birch State Park. In the guarded areas of the beach, there are 20 year-round, permanently staffed lifeguard towers spaced between 200 and 400 yards apart. There are also as many as 10 temporary-auxiliary stands that are used during the peak season, special events and holidays. 

In the lifeguard-supervised areas of Fort Lauderdale Beach, drowning is very rare. The most recent incident was more than 20 years ago. Most water-related fatalities occur in unsupervised waters distant from lifeguard towers.

Accident prevention is the key to your safety. This web site will help you become “Ocean Smart” with important tips that experienced ocean swimmers as well as leisurely beachgoers need to know.

You will also learn about Fort Lauderdale Ocean Rescue, proudly serving Greater Fort Lauderdale and our visitors since 1926.

Fort Lauderdale Beach Conditions

CURRENT CONDITIONS AT FORT LAUDERDALE BEACH

Date/Time:

7:45 AM, May 20, 2008

Weather Forecast:

Partly sunny. Areas of smoke in the morning. Slight chance of showers in the morning...then chance of showers and thunderstorms in the late morning and afternoon. Highs in the lower 90s. Southwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 30 percent.

Current Weather:

Temperature: 78°; Wind: WSW 4 MPH; Partly Cloudy

Marine Forecast:

Southwest winds 5 to 10 knots becoming 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 feet or less building to 2 to 4 feet in the afternoon. Intracoastal waters a light chop. Slight chance of showers through the day. Slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Ocean Water Conditions:

Calm

Intracoastal Water Conditions:

Intracoastal waters a light chop.

Air Temperature:

77°-90°

Water Temperature (Ocean):

74°

High Tide:

8:48 A.M.

Low Tide:

3:02 P.M.

Wind Direction/Speed:

SW 4-10 MPH

Sea Pests:

None at this time.

Current Warning Flags:

Green

Remember that ocean conditions can change quickly. Check with the lifeguard on duty if you are unsure of safe conditions. Swim only in front of a lifeguard-protected area; the ocean is always potentially hazardous.

  • You can also call the Beach Conditions Hotline anytime at 954-828-4597 (updated daily).
  • See the Fort Lauderdale Beach Live Beach Cam (courtesy of www.sunny.org).

Beach Warning Flag Meanings

Green Flag - Low Hazard

GREEN FLAG - Low Hazard: Conditions are calm; normal care and caution should be exercised.

Yellow Flag - Moderately Hazardous

YELLOW FLAG - Moderately Hazardous Conditions: Moderate currents and/or surf are present; use extra care.

Red Flag - Very Hazardous

RED FLAG - Very Hazardous Conditions: Rough surf and/or strong currents exist; swimmers are strongly discouraged from entering the water.

Double Red Flag - Beach Closed
Double Red Flag - Beach Closed

DOUBLE-RED FLAG - Closed to the Public: The water and/or beach are closed to the public due to severe currents and/or surf, water pollution, the threat of lightning, or the presence of predatory fish.

Purple Flag - Marine Pests

PURPLE FLAG - Marine Pests: Jellyfish, man-of-wars, and/or sea lice are present. This flag may be flown along with any of the other flags.

Tide Table

The Fort Lauderdale tide table for the current month is available online at http://waterfront-news.com/html/current_tide_table.htm.