Double red flags flew over Gulf Shores beaches this week as Hurricane Francine moved through the Gulf of Mexico, keeping swimmers out of the water and pushing dangerous surf onto the Alabama coastline. The warning flags, the most severe in Alabama’s beach flag system, mean the water is closed to the public because of a high risk of rip currents and rough seas.
Under the double red flag advisory, anyone caught in the water can face a $500 fine or arrest. Gulf Shores police stepped up patrols along the beach to enforce the closure as rain bands from the storm moved through the area and churned up the surf.
Despite the rain and the closed water, some visitors made the best of the unsettled weather. Mike Maner, who was vacationing in Gulf Shores when the flags went up, said he did not mind the wet forecast. “A rainy day at the beach is better than a sunny day at the office,” Maner said.
City officials said the message about staying out of the Gulf appeared to be getting through to beachgoers. Gulf Shores Beach Safety Chief Joethan Phillips said his officers had not needed to issue any citations as of midweek, in part because the storm itself was keeping crowds thin. “To my knowledge, the police department hasn’t had to write any tickets. Right now, with the rain coming in, the beach really isn’t too busy. Everybody seems to be abiding,” Phillips said.
Forecasters warned that the elevated risk of rip currents was expected to continue through the end of the week, with double red flags likely to fly again as Francine continued to influence conditions in the Gulf. Beach safety officials said they would reassess the flag status daily based on the storm’s track and intensity.
“We’ll continue to monitor and maybe go to single red on Friday, but it just all depends on what the storm does,” Phillips said.
Rip currents are among the leading causes of beach-related deaths along the Gulf Coast, and officials routinely urge visitors to check flag conditions before entering the water, swim near a lifeguard when possible, and know how to escape a rip current by swimming parallel to shore if caught in one. Alabama’s beach warning system ranges from green, indicating calm conditions, up through yellow, single red and double red, the highest level, which closes the water entirely to swimmers.
Visitors planning trips to Gulf Shores and Orange Beach during hurricane season are encouraged to monitor local forecasts and beach safety announcements, since flag conditions can change quickly as tropical systems pass through the Gulf.