Current Beach Updates & Conditions

Here's an update on current beach conditions in St. Pete/Clearwater.


 

 

Aerial view of lively Clearwater Beach with white sands and emerald-green waters

Beautiful Clearwater Beach was named America's #1 Beach in 2019, 2018 and 2016.

Updated at 12:30 p.m., May 24, 2023

Great news! Red tide is not present on St. Pete/Clearwater's beaches (with no area beaches had any issues at the latest report from local officials). Pinellas County and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will continue to test area waters. See the latest red tide conditions on this Pinellas County map.

Also, the non-toxic Trichodesmium or "sea sawdust" algae, which was seen at a few area beaches last week is no longer present.

Although many national news outlets have reported about a massive seaweed or sargassum "blob" coming to Florida, this is not affecting the beaches of St. Pete/Clearwater in any way.

 

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.

A drink from a beach bar in Pass-a-Grille
live webcam

Live from America's Best Beaches

Find soft white sands and emerald waters here on St. Pete Beach, Tripadvisor's top beach in 2021. This webcam is live from the Sirata Beach Resort.

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.

 

Average Beach 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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