Current Beach Updates & Conditions
Nearly all beaches in St. Pete/Clearwater are open and ready to welcome visitors.
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 September 2, 2023, at 2 p.m.
While Hurricane Idalia made landfall hundreds of miles away in Florida's Big Bend area, its outer bands created some storm surge along our beaches. Those waters have since receded, and many of our beaches are open to the public. At this time, Sunset Beach on Treasure Island, as well as about half of the public beach access points on Indian Rocks Beach are closed because of beach erosion.
These Indian Rocks Beach access points are open (all others are closed): 27th Avenue; 19th Avenue; 18th Avenue; 17th Avenue; 16th Avenue; 15th Avenue; 10th Avenue; 9th Avenue; 8th Avenue; 7th Avenue; 4th Avenue; 3rd Avenue; Whitehurst Avenue.
At this time, red tide is not present on St. Pete/Clearwater's beaches.
Although many national news outlets reported about a massive seaweed or sargassum "blob" coming to Florida this summer, this is not affecting the beaches of St. Pete/Clearwater in any way.
Images Taken of Our Beaches After Hurricane Idalia
St. Pete/Clearwater experienced storm surge and some localized flooding during Hurricane Idalia, which made landfall hundreds of miles away in Florida's Big Bend region. Those waters have receded, and most of our beaches are now open. Here are untouched images to show our beaches, taken on August 31, 2023.
One side effect of the storm has been spectacular! Flamingos are extremely rare in the wild in Florida, yet this "flamboyance" (not flock) has been spotted in the past few days on Clearwater Beach, at Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, and on Treasure Island (pictured here). It's thought that they flew or blew in ahead of Hurricane Idalia.
This aerial of tranquil Pass-a-Grille Beach was taken on Thursday, August 31, 2023.
Swimmers enter the gentle surf at Pass-a-Grille Beach on August 31, 2023.
This boardwalk through dune vegetation in St. Pete Beach was photographed on August 31, 2023.
Gulfport Beach and downtown Gulfport experienced some storm surge and localized flooding. Here, a boat is beached near Gulfport Casino.
USA Today has just 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.
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 BeachLive Webcam (no audio)
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.
What's Trending
What's Trending
Average Beach Water Temperatures
| 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
| 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 |