Beach & Boating Forecast Saturday

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – SATURDAY: Beaches and Coastal First Alert Weather – High Risk of Rip Currents, High Surf, and Small Craft Advisories Saturday.

Beaches are windy Saturday and Rip Current Risk is High. So watch the flags at lifeguard stations. Showers and thunderstorms are possible morning and afternoon.

Expect windy conditions and watch out for lightning. Showers and scattered thunderstorms are possible, on and off, throughout the day. The water will be rough with a moderate thunderstorm potential, so swimmers should exercise caution. A high rip current risk means strong currents will be pulling water away from shore—if you do enter the water, swim parallel to the beach if you get caught in a rip. Winds will be steady from the south around 20 mph, creating choppy conditions in the water.

⛵ Suncoast Boating Forecast – Small Craft Advisory

Conditions on the water remain hazardous Saturday as Hurricane Isaias continues to influence the Suncoast marine area. However, seas and winds are expected to gradually subside by the end of the weekend as the storm moves inland. A Small Craft Advisory remains in effect through Saturday evening.

Saturday: Expect rough conditions with south winds 20 to 25 knots and gusts up to 30 knots. Bay and inland waters will be rough with numerous showers and scattered thunderstorms. Boaters should use caution and monitor conditions closely.

Sunday: Conditions will begin to improve noticeably. South winds will decrease to 10 to 15 knots, and bay and inland waters will show a moderate chop. Widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms will still be possible, so stay weather-aware.

Monday: Much better boating weather develops as high pressure builds in. North winds will be light at 5 to 10 knots with light chop in the bays and inland waters. This will be a much more pleasant day to be on the water.

Tuesday: Conditions remain favorable with north winds 10 to 15 knots and a moderate chop developing in the bays and inland waters. Overall, it’s a good day to get back out on the water after the weekend’s rough seas.

Hurricane Isaias made landfall 8:30 PM on Friday, near Destin, Florida. The storm was a Category 2 hurricane with 105 mph winds at landfall. The National Hurricane Center is not expecting any tropical cyclone development over the next seven days across the Atlantic, Caribbean, or Gulf.