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Fernandina Beach (Main Beach)
Shark Weather report · updated Sun Oct 18, 11:06 pm ET
Sunrise/sunset calculated for this beach’s location (NOAA solar equations, ±2 min). Tides: NOAA CO-OPS predictions, Fernandina Beach, Amelia River (8720030), 3 km away, feet above MLLW.
Surf/swim conditions only, never shark risk. How it's calculated
We have no approved official shark advisory or closure for this beach right now. Sharks live along this whole coast, so always check with lifeguards and posted signs.
No past official advisories on file for this beach yet. How this works
11 AM–2 PM · breezy (up to 20 mph), mid tide, rising
💨 Mid-window wind: Breezy cross-shore, 20 mph from N: choppy
⚠ High Surf Advisory, Rip Current Statement, High rip current risk (NWS) in effect: even the best window may be rough. Check the alerts above.
Daylight hours only (sunrise 7:30 am, sunset 6:50 pm). From the NWS hourly forecast (wind) and NOAA CO-OPS hourly tide predictions (Fernandina Beach, Amelia River, 3 km away). Surf/swim conditions only, not a safety rating. How it works
Active NWS alerts
⚠ High Surf Advisory
High Surf Advisory issued October 18 at 7:36PM EDT until October 20 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Details from NWS
* WHAT...For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 7 to 11 feet. For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida Beaches. * WHEN...For the High Surf Advisory, until 2 AM EDT Tuesday. For the High Rip Current Risk, through late Monday night. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
Source: NWS Jacksonville FL · until Tue Oct 20, 2:00 am ET
⚠ Rip Current Statement
Rip Current Statement issued October 18 at 7:36PM EDT until October 20 at 2:00AM EDT by NWS Jacksonville FL
Details from NWS
* WHAT...For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 7 to 11 feet. For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida Beaches. * WHEN...For the High Surf Advisory, until 2 AM EDT Tuesday. For the High Rip Current Risk, through late Monday night. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.
Source: NWS Jacksonville FL · until Tue Oct 20, 2:00 am ET
7-day outlook
Today Oct 18
Mon Oct 19
Tue Oct 20
Wed Oct 21
Thu Oct 22
Fri Oct 23
Sat Oct 24
Weather, wind and rain chance: National Weather Service (Tonight onward), updated Sun Oct 18, 7:36 pm ET. High / overnight low. “n/a” = NWS gave no rain chance. Waves: NWS surf zone forecast (Nassau-Duval-Flagler-St. Johns), issued Sun Oct 18, 5:00 pm ET; it only covers the next few days, so “—” means no official wave forecast.
Conditions
Waves
Significant wave height 2.6 m · dominant period 7 s · from 49° (NE)
Offshore Fernandina Beach buoy, 14 km away, as of 9:26 pm ET · NOAA NDBC · Data courtesy of CDIP (station 132). Buoys measure offshore; breaking surf at the beach can differ.
Surf zone forecastNWS
High Surf Advisory In Effect Until 2 Am Edt TuesdayHigh Rip Current Risk In Effect Through Late Monday Night| Period | Rest Of Today |
| Surf height | 8 to 10 feet |
| Rip current risk | High |
| Water temp (NWS) | 75 to 80 |
| Remarks |
Nassau-Duval-Flagler-St. Johns · issued Sun Oct 18, 5:00 pm ET · NWS Surf Zone Forecast
Water temp
Wetsuit meter: today 77°F, swimsuit / boardshorts
Offshore Fernandina Beach buoy (CDIP 132), 14 km away, as of 9:26 pm ET · Data courtesy of CDIP. The wetsuit meter is a general comfort guide.
Weather & wind
Tonight: Partly Cloudy, 64°F, wind 22 to 25 mph NE
- Monday: Mostly Sunny, 69°
- Monday Night: Mostly Clear, 62°
National Weather Service (JAX) forecast, updated Sun Oct 18, 7:36 pm ET
💨 Strong onshore, 25 mph from NE: choppy, blown out (how)
Tides today
| Tide | Time (ET) | Height |
|---|---|---|
| High | 2:28 am | 5.6 ft |
| Low | 8:20 am | 1.8 ft |
| High | 3:00 pm | 6.2 ft |
| Low | 9:26 pm | 2.0 ft |
NOAA CO-OPS predictions, Fernandina Beach, Amelia River (8720030), 3 km away · feet above MLLW
Water quality
Official status: Florida Healthy Beaches (Florida Department of Health) · Florida Department of Health in Nassau County
The state samples beach water for enterococci bacteria: Good 0–35, Moderate 36–70, Poor 71 or more per 100 mL. If a result is above 70 and a resample is too, the county issues an advisory for that site. We haven’t found an official machine-readable feed we’re allowed to reuse, so we link to the official results instead of showing a status.
Florida Department of Health, Healthy Beaches Program (checked 2026-10-18).
Lifeguards
Fernandina Beach Fire Department, Ocean Rescue
Official site. Ask the nearest tower about conditions, rip currents and any wildlife sightings.
In an emergency call 911.
Beach warning flags
- Double red: Water is closed to the public.
- Red: High hazard: high surf and/or strong currents.
- Yellow: Medium hazard: moderate surf and/or currents.
- Green: Low hazard: calm conditions, exercise caution.
- Purple: Dangerous marine life spotted.
Florida uses one statewide set of beach warning flags (section 380.276, Florida Statutes). No flag flying does not mean the water is safe. Lifeguards post today’s flags at the beach.
Meanings: Volusia County Beach Safety. Program: Florida DEP Beach Warning Flag Program.
SwellNDBC
| Primary swell | ESE 2.3 ft @ 14.3 s |
| Wind waves (secondary) | NE 8.2 ft @ 6.7 s |
This swell reaches here well (by our estimated swell window)
Swell window for this beach (estimate)
Reaches well from: 20–140° · partly from: 0–19°, 141–170° (directions the swell comes from, degrees true). East-facing open Atlantic beach; a wide, shallow continental shelf takes some energy out of long-period swell. Estimate only: bearings read from coastline orientation and generally known exposure, roughly ±15°, not surveyed.
Offshore Fernandina Beach buoy (41112), 14 km offshore, spectral summary as of 9:26 pm ET · NOAA NDBC · Data courtesy of CDIP (station 132). Height in feet (converted from meters), period in seconds, direction the waves come from.
Beach info
| Lifeguards | Fernandina Beach Ocean Rescue staffs about 60 certified ocean lifeguards seasonally, May through September, covering 13 miles of Amelia Island beaches. |
| Good to know | Beach rangers enforce beach rules and manage on-beach parking. |
From official pages: fbfl.us. Checked 2026-10-18. Rules, fees and hours change; follow posted signs and lifeguards.
