High surf and coastal flooding for coastal Georgia and northeast Florida through Wednesday morning
Updated October 12 at 8:05 AM EDT: NWS Jacksonville FL issued a Coastal Flood Advisory for Inland Flagler and Eastern Putnam through October 13 at 7:00 AM EDT, covering minor high-tide inundation in low-lying tidal areas in those inland zones. A broader advisory from 1:35 AM EDT for Inland Flagler, Eastern Clay, Eastern Putnam, South Central Duval, and Western St. Johns has cleared. The Flagler and Putnam inland zone advisory is the active product through Tuesday morning. Check weather.gov/jax. Prior: Updated October 10 at 5:15 PM EDT: NWS Jacksonville FL issued a Marine Weather Statement for coastal and offshore waters from Altamaha Sound GA to Flagler Beach FL out 60 NM. Small Craft Advisories for northeast Florida zones through October 11 at 2:00 AM EDT were in effect. Check weather.gov/jax.
NWS Jacksonville issued advisories at 2:57 AM EDT Tuesday for coastal Georgia and northeast Florida. A High Surf Advisory is in effect for Coastal Glynn County (Brunswick, St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island) and Coastal Camden County (St. Marys, Cumberland Island) in Georgia through 5:00 AM EDT Wednesday, October 8. Coastal Flood Advisories for those same Georgia zones, plus Coastal Nassau, Coastal Duval, Coastal Flagler, and Northeast and Southeast Coastal St. Johns counties in Florida and the Trout River zone in the Jacksonville area, run through the same Wednesday morning expiration. Rip Current Statements with Moderate risk are in effect through 5:00 PM EDT Tuesday for the northeast Florida county zones (Nassau, Duval, Flagler, and St. Johns) and Coastal Glynn and Camden counties in Georgia.
Update, October 6 at 3:07 AM EDT: NWS Jacksonville also issued a Small Craft Advisory for the offshore waters from Altamaha Sound GA to Fernandina Beach FL, covering both the nearshore zone out 20 nautical miles and the offshore zone from 20 to 60 nautical miles. That advisory runs through 5:00 AM EDT Wednesday, October 8, the same expiration as the coastal advisories. Boats staging in Brunswick or Fernandina Beach for the South Atlantic red snapper opener Thursday face advisory conditions across both the coastal and offshore zones through Wednesday morning.
October is the fall transition window on the Georgia coast and in northeast Florida, with redfish on shallow tidal flats and in coastal creeks, flounder at inlets, and nearshore reef fish on days with suitable conditions. Coastal flooding during high tide cycles through Tuesday night affects low-lying boat ramp approaches and inlet margins in the advisory zones. High surf along the Georgia coast is a separate hazard for beach access and surf fishing. The Gale Warning from NWS Charleston (South Santee River SC to Altamaha Sound GA) has been the larger concern for offshore departures this week, and these NWS Jacksonville advisories extend that conditions picture south to the Florida border and into the Jacksonville coastal area. Conditions after an advisory expires can still include elevated swell and current; the NWS zone text for the specific departure water is the pre-launch check.
Update, Wednesday October 7 at 2:26 AM EDT: NWS Charleston has issued High Surf Advisories for SC and adjacent GA coastal zones. Coastal Colleton, Charleston, Beaufort, and Jasper counties in SC are under a High Surf Advisory through 2:00 PM EDT. Coastal Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, and McIntosh counties in Georgia (the Savannah-area coast, north of the Glynn/Camden zones covered above) are under a High Surf Advisory through 2:00 PM EDT and a Rip Current Statement through 8:00 PM EDT. A minor Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect for coastal Colleton and Charleston SC through 8:00 AM EDT and for inland New Hanover County NC through 9:00 AM EDT; both cover minor inundation during high tide cycles. Shore-based and near-inlet anglers along the SC coast and the GA Savannah coast face elevated rip current risk through this evening. Current products are at weather.gov/chs (SC and GA coastal) and weather.gov/ilm (NC).
Update, Wednesday October 7 at 2:35 AM EDT: NWS Jacksonville issued updated Small Craft Advisories and extended the Rip Current Statements for northeast Florida and coastal Georgia. SCA coverage now runs from Altamaha Sound GA south to Flagler Beach FL: three segments (Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach FL, Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL, and St. Augustine to Flagler Beach FL), each covering both the coastal zone out 20 nautical miles and the offshore zone from 20 to 60 nautical miles, all expiring at 2:00 AM EDT Thursday, October 8. The St. Augustine to Flagler Beach segment, covering the Ponte Vedra Beach and Flagler Beach area, extends the advisory south of the earlier SCA coverage. Coastal Flood Advisories for Nassau, Flagler, and northeast and southeast Coastal St. Johns county zones in Florida and Coastal Glynn and Camden counties in Georgia run through 5:00 AM EDT Thursday, October 8. A separate Coastal Flood Advisory for the Jacksonville river basin (Eastern Clay, Eastern Putnam, Trout River, South Central Duval, Western St. Johns) runs through 2:00 PM EDT Saturday, October 10, covering low-lying tidal creek and river-margin areas subject to high tide flooding. The Rip Current Statements for Nassau, Duval, Flagler, St. Johns, Glynn, and Camden county zones are extended through 6:00 AM EDT Sunday, October 11, Moderate risk throughout. That covers the full upcoming weekend. Current products for northeast Florida and coastal Georgia zones are at weather.gov/jax.
Update, Wednesday October 7 at 7:41 AM EDT: NWS Charleston re-issued the High Surf Advisories and Rip Current Statement for the SC and GA Savannah-area coast. The High Surf Advisory for Coastal Colleton, Charleston, Beaufort, and Jasper counties in SC and for Coastal Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, and McIntosh counties in GA remains in effect through 2:00 PM EDT. The Rip Current Statement for Coastal Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, and McIntosh counties in GA continues through this evening. The minor Coastal Flood Advisory for Coastal Colleton and Charleston SC, noted in the 2:26 AM update, has cleared. Shore and surf anglers along the SC coast and the GA Savannah coast should treat rip current risk as active through the afternoon and evening hours. Current NWS Charleston products are at weather.gov/chs.
Update, Wednesday October 7 at 8:41 AM EDT: NWS Wilmington NC re-issued a minor Coastal Flood Advisory for Inland New Hanover County NC at 8:41 AM EDT, expiring at 9:00 AM EDT. The advisory covers minor high-tide inundation in low-lying inland areas of New Hanover County, the same inland zone noted in the 2:26 AM update above. The coastal flood products for Colleton and Charleston SC cleared as confirmed in the 7:41 AM update to the Gale Warning story. The Inland New Hanover issuance is the last active coastal flood product from this system in the Wilmington CWA. Current NWS Wilmington products are at weather.gov/ilm.
Update, Wednesday October 7 at 2:12 PM EDT: NWS Jacksonville re-issued Small Craft Advisories for northeast Florida and southeast Georgia offshore zones. The afternoon re-issuance covers coastal waters from Altamaha Sound GA to Fernandina Beach FL out 20 nautical miles, coastal waters from Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL out 20 nautical miles, and the offshore zones from 20 to 60 nautical miles for both segments. All four advisories expire at 2:00 AM EDT Thursday, October 8, the same expiration set in the 2:35 AM EDT update above. The re-issuance extends advisory coverage through the overnight period for the Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, and St. Augustine coastal and offshore waters. Boats out of Fernandina Beach or St. Augustine staging for a Thursday departure clear the advisory after 2:00 AM EDT. Current products for northeast Florida zones are at weather.gov/jax.
Update, Wednesday October 7 at 2:21 PM EDT: NWS Charleston SC issued Small Craft Advisories for coastal and offshore Georgia waters. Coastal waters from Edisto Beach SC to Savannah GA out 20 nautical miles are under advisory through 8:00 PM EDT Wednesday, October 7. Coastal waters from Savannah GA to Altamaha Sound GA out 20 nautical miles, including Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary, are under advisory through 2:30 AM EDT Thursday, October 8. Waters from Savannah GA to Altamaha Sound GA from 20 to 60 nautical miles are under advisory through 10:30 PM EDT Wednesday. These afternoon re-issuances continue NWS Charleston advisory coverage through Wednesday evening and overnight, consistent with the residual northeast wind pattern following Tropical Storm Isaias's Gulf Coast approach. Georgia vessels staging for a Thursday departure should confirm advisory status for their specific departure zone at weather.gov/chs after 2:30 AM EDT Thursday.
Update, Wednesday October 7 at 7:56 PM EDT: NWS Charleston SC re-issued Small Craft Advisories for Savannah GA to Altamaha Sound GA zones. The nearshore advisory (out 20 nautical miles, including Grays Reef National Marine Sanctuary) runs through 2:00 AM EDT Thursday, October 8. The offshore advisory (20 to 60 nautical miles) runs through 4:00 AM EDT Thursday, extending past the 10:30 PM EDT Wednesday window noted in the 2:21 PM update. The Rip Current Statement for Coastal Bryan, Chatham, Liberty, and McIntosh counties in Georgia expired at 8:00 PM EDT as scheduled. GA boats planning a predawn Thursday departure for the red snapper opener should check current NWS Charleston zone products at weather.gov/chs before leaving the dock; the offshore zone carries advisory conditions through 4:00 AM EDT.
Update, Thursday October 8 at 1:56 AM EDT: NWS Jacksonville FL issued new Small Craft Advisories and updated Coastal Flood Advisories and Rip Current Statements for northeast Florida and coastal Georgia. Small Craft Advisory coverage runs through October 11 at 2:00 AM EDT for three offshore segments: Altamaha Sound GA to Fernandina Beach FL, Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL, and St. Augustine to Flagler Beach FL, each covering the nearshore zone out 20 nautical miles and the offshore zone from 20 to 60 nautical miles. That three-day window is the primary trip-planning constraint for boats running from Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, St. Augustine, and Flagler Beach-area ports through the weekend. A Coastal Flood Advisory for Coastal Duval and the inland tidal zones (Eastern Clay, Eastern Putnam, South Central Duval, Western St. Johns) runs through October 10 at 2:00 PM EDT, covering minor inundation at high tide cycles. A separate Coastal Flood Advisory for Coastal Nassau, Coastal Flagler, Northeast and Southeast Coastal St. Johns, Coastal Glynn, and Coastal Camden expires at 5:00 PM EDT today, October 8. Rip Current Statements at Moderate risk for Coastal Duval and the Nassau, Flagler, St. Johns, Glynn, and Camden county zones run through October 11 at 6:00 AM EDT. Current products for northeast Florida and coastal Georgia zones are at weather.gov/jax.
Update, Thursday October 8 at 2:16 AM EDT: NWS Charleston SC issued a minor Coastal Flood Advisory for Coastal Colleton and Coastal Charleston counties, effective through 9:00 AM EDT Thursday. The advisory covered isolated minor high-tide inundation in low-lying coastal areas during the overnight and early morning high tide cycle. That advisory has since cleared. Current NWS Charleston products are at weather.gov/chs.
Update, Thursday October 8 at 10:49 AM EDT: NWS Charleston SC issued a new Coastal Flood Advisory for Coastal Colleton and Coastal Charleston counties, in effect through 8:00 PM EDT Thursday, October 8. The overnight advisory for these zones cleared by 9:00 AM EDT; this afternoon issuance covers isolated minor flooding during high tide cycles through the evening. Low-lying boat ramp approaches and inlet margins in the Charleston Harbor area may see minor water intrusion at peak tide. Shore and inlet anglers in the Charleston and ACE Basin coastal areas should account for elevated water at ramp access points through the evening high tide. Current NWS Charleston products are at weather.gov/chs.
Update, Thursday October 8 at 1:54 PM EDT: NWS Jacksonville FL re-issued Small Craft Advisories for northeast Florida and southeast Georgia offshore zones. The two Florida segments, Fernandina Beach to St. Augustine FL and St. Augustine to Flagler Beach FL, each covering the nearshore zone out 20 nautical miles and the offshore zone from 20 to 60 nautical miles, continue through October 11 at 2:00 AM EDT, unchanged from the overnight issuance. The southeast Georgia segment, Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach FL nearshore and offshore, was re-issued on a shorter window through October 9 at 4:00 AM EDT. Georgia boats out of Brunswick or St. Simons Island targeting a Friday departure should confirm the Altamaha Sound to Fernandina Beach advisory status at weather.gov/jax before leaving; that coverage clears by early Friday morning. The Coastal Duval Flood Advisory through October 10 and Rip Current Statements at Moderate risk for northeast Florida and coastal Georgia county zones through October 11 at 6:00 AM EDT remain in effect. Current zone products are at weather.gov/jax.
Update, Thursday October 8 at 2:20 PM EDT: NWS Wilmington NC issued a Coastal Flood Advisory for Inland New Hanover County NC at 2:20 PM EDT, in effect through 10:00 PM EDT Thursday, October 8. The advisory covers minor inundation during high tide cycles in low-lying inland areas of New Hanover County, the same inland zone that had been under a brief advisory on October 7. Wilmington-area waterfront access points and low-lying tidal inlets may see minor water intrusion at the evening high tide. Current NWS Wilmington products are at weather.gov/ilm.
Update, Thursday October 8 at 2:38 PM EDT: NWS Charleston SC issued a Rip Current Statement for Coastal Bryan, Coastal Chatham, Coastal Liberty, and Coastal McIntosh counties in Georgia, effective at 2:38 PM EDT Thursday and running through 8:00 PM EDT Friday, October 9. Risk is rated Moderate. These zones cover the Georgia Lowcountry coast from the Bryan County beaches through Chatham County (Tybee Island and the Savannah oceanfront), Liberty County (Midway area and St. Catherines Island coast), and McIntosh County (Darien and Sapelo Island coast). The previous Rip Current Statement from NWS Charleston for the same zones expired at 8:00 PM EDT Wednesday, October 7; this new issuance reinstates Moderate rip current risk through Friday evening. Shore and surf anglers along the Tybee Island, Savannah-area beach, and McIntosh County coast should treat rip current hazard as active through 8:00 PM EDT Friday. Current NWS Charleston products are at weather.gov/chs.
Update, Friday October 9 at 2:21 AM EDT: NWS Wilmington NC issued a Coastal Flood Advisory for Inland New Hanover County NC at 2:21 AM EDT, in effect through 11:00 AM EDT Friday, October 9. Up to half a foot of inundation is expected in low-lying areas near tidal waterways. The lower Cape Fear River and downtown Wilmington area carry the heaviest exposure between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM; NWS Wilmington notes the lowest portions of USS North Carolina Road and Battleship Road as flood-onset locations in that zone. The prior Inland New Hanover advisory, noted in the October 8 at 2:20 PM update above, expired at 10:00 PM EDT Thursday. Low-lying boat ramp access and waterfront parking along the Wilmington riverfront may see minor water at peak tide. Current NWS Wilmington products are at weather.gov/ilm.
Update, Saturday October 10 at 5:15 PM EDT: NWS Jacksonville FL issued a Marine Weather Statement for coastal and offshore waters from Altamaha Sound GA to Flagler Beach FL out 60 nautical miles. Radar showed a line of thunderstorms moving east at approximately 10 knots, positioned between Jekyll Island on the Georgia coast and Ormond-By-the-Sea in northeast Florida. The statement identified winds near 30 knots and called waterspouts possible with this activity. Mariners on or near the water in these zones should seek shelter immediately and move away from any waterspouts that develop. The statement expires at 6:15 PM EDT Saturday. Small Craft Advisories for the same northeast Florida coastal and offshore zones remain in effect through October 11 at 2:00 AM EDT. Current products for northeast Florida and coastal Georgia zones are at weather.gov/jax.
Update, Monday October 12 at 8:05 AM EDT: NWS Jacksonville FL (weather.gov/jax) issued a Coastal Flood Advisory at 8:05 AM EDT for Inland Flagler and Eastern Putnam counties, running through 7:00 AM EDT Tuesday, October 13. The advisory covers minor inundation of low-lying tidal areas in these inland northeast Florida zones through the overnight high tide cycle. A broader advisory issued at 1:35 AM EDT Monday for Inland Flagler, Eastern Clay, Eastern Putnam, South Central Duval, and Western St. Johns has cleared; the 8:05 AM EDT issuance for the Flagler and Putnam inland zones is the active product through Tuesday morning. Low-lying boat ramp approaches and waterfront access roads in the St. Johns River basin and tidal creek zones of Flagler and Putnam counties may see minor water at high tide through Tuesday morning. Current products for northeast Florida zones are at weather.gov/jax.
This is a conditions notice, not a go/no-go recommendation for any vessel. Active advisories and zone text forecasts for these areas are at weather.gov/jax, weather.gov/chs, and weather.gov/ilm.
On the water: Rules and conditions can change quickly. Confirm current regulations and official marine forecasts for your exact trip.