Current Beach Updates & Conditions

Learn more about current beach conditions in St. Pete/Clearwater.

aerial view of st pete beach with buildings on left and white beach green water

St. Pete Beach was lucky to have avoided damage from Hurricane Idalia, which passed well to its west. This photo was taken on August 31, 2023.

Updated December 22, 2023

Our award-winning beaches are the jewel of the St. Pete/Clearwater destination. Over the summer in 2023, our area experienced storm surge along our beaches from Hurricane Idalia. As a result, Pinellas County is conducting a rolling series of small shoreline restoration projects, constructing dunes to mitigate erosion. The active project has moved strategically along the coast, creating as minimal impact on beach visitation as possible. Recently, the area experienced an additional storm surge that has impacted some of these newly constructed dunes, causing erosion of the sand dunes. 

All public beaches are currently open. However, some public access points have been closed due to the storm’s impact. Before heading to the beach, please check to see which access points might be best for your trip to the beach. While on the beach. it is important that you do not step foot on or around the dunes or areas of dune erosion, and avoid any active work zones. Learn more about the restoration project.

At this time, red tide is not present on St. Pete/Clearwater's beaches. 

 

USA Today has named Clearwater Beach the #1 Beach in the South!

See For Yourself

Take a look at this live beach webcam to see what's happening on America's Best Beaches. And check out our live webcam page for even more views of our beaches.

Aerial view of St. Pete Beach emerald-green waters with Bellwether Beach Resort in the background
live webcam

St. Pete Beach at TradeWinds Island Grand Resort

Take a look at the gorgeous waters and soft white sand lining the coast at one of St. Pete/Clearwater's top resorts.

Read More About St. Pete Beach

Beach Safety and Courtesy Every Day

On any beach day, it's important to be aware of current beach conditions. Look to the beach flag warning system (see details lower on this page) and heed any posted warnings. Rip tides are infrequent, but can be present without being obvious to beachgoers.

Below, you'll also find information on seasonal air and water temperatures, as well as additional resources to help you plan your beach vacation.

As you enjoy America's Best Beaches, please remember to be considerate of other beachgoers, wear sunscreen, stay hydrated, and have a safe and sunny beach day.

Florida's Beach Warning Flag Program

Many Florida beaches, including beaches in St. Pete/Clearwater, utilize a beach warning flag system to let beachgoers know of current beach conditions. You'll most often see beach warning flags posted on or near lifeguard stands. 

Here are the beach warning flag colors and what they mean:

Green Flag: Low hazard, calm conditions.

Yellow Flag: Medium hazard with moderate surf or currents.

Red Flag: High hazard, with high surf or strong currents; when these conditions are present, lifeguards may ask swimmers to get out of the water.

Double Red Flag: Water is closed to the public (you may still walk on the beach, but you may not enter the water).

Blue Flag: Stinging or hazardous marine life such as stingrays or jellyfish are present.

It's important to note that rip currents can occur unexpectedly at any beach. Swimmers should be aware of their surroundings and read about what to do if they get caught in a rip current.

 

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Average Water Temperatures

Yes, you can swim at our beaches, year 'round! Most visitors find our Gulf water temperatures quite pleasant, especially if they are coming from colder climates. See our chart of average Gulf water temperatures below.
January 64 F 17.7 C
February 64.4 F 18 C
March 66.7 F 19.3 C
April 73 F 22.8 C
May 78 F 25.6 C
June 82.4 F 28 C
July 85 F 29.6 C
August 86.7 F 30.4 C
September 84.6 F 29.2 C
October 81 F 27.3 C
November 75 F 23.8 C
December  68.5 F 20.3 C

 

Average Air Temperatures

Florida is the Sunshine State, and we have warm weather year 'round. Here's a chart of average monthly highs and lows in St. Pete/Clearwater. Summer months tend to have brief afternoon rainstorms, while winter months are typically dry. Be sure to leave the beach if a thunderstorm is coming.
Month High Low
January 66.7 F /19.3 C 57 F / 13.7 C
February 68.7 F / 20.4 C 59 F / 15 C
March 72 F / 22.3 C 62 F / 16.7 C
April 78 F / 25.4 C 68 F / 20 C
May 82 F / 27.9 C 78 F / 25.6 C
June 86 F / 29.9 C 78.4 F / 25.8 C
July 87 F / 30.7 C 80 F / 26.6 C
August 88 F / 31 C 81 F / 27 C
September 87 F / 30.3 C 78 F / 25.5 C
October 81 F / 27.3 C 73 F / 22.5 C
November 81 F / 27.3 C 75 F / 23.9 C
December 71 F / 21.5 C 61 F / 16.2 C

 

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