Beach Safety / Molly's Patrol

Gulf Shores & Orange Beach Daily Beach Report for Thursday, September 28, 2023 

  • Today’s flag color:  Single Red Flags. Single Red Flags represent High Hazard with High Surf and Strong Currents. For your safety we ask that you stay on the shore.
  • Gulf temperature: 80 degrees
  • Surf conditions: Choppy with waves at 2 to 3 feet and strong west running currents.
  • Rip current forecast: High Risk
  • Daily weather: Cloudy with showers and thunderstorms likely. The high temperature in the mid 80’s.
  • Wind: East winds around 15 mph.
  • UV index: High
  • Tides: High Tide is scheduled for 11:46AM & Low Tide is scheduled for 8:09PM.

For the latest local weather updates, go to the Orange Beach Weather page or visit the National Weather Service-Mobile Alabama page.

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Sign up to receive daily beach conditions and warning flag status by texting ALBEACHES to 888777. For additional weather alerts and warnings for the local area text ALERTBALDWIN to 888777. You can easily opt out of text alerts by texting STOP.



What Does Each Flag Signify?

Medium Hazard

Beach Flag Yellow - Medium Hazard

High Hazard

Beach Flag Red - High Hazard

Dangerous Marine Life

Beach Flag Purple - Dangerous Marine Life

Medium Hazard, Marine Life

Beach Flag Yellow Purple - Medium Hazard, Marine Life

High Hazard, Marine Life

Beach Flag Red Purple - High Hazard, Marine Life

Water Closed to Public

Beach Flag 2 Red - Water Closed to Public
  1. Surf Rescue Operations

Surf Rescue was formed in 2008 starting out under Parks and Recreation, daily patrols consisted of two lifeguards covering seven in a half miles of coastline and educating visitors about beach and water safety. On January 1, 2012, Surf Rescue was moved to the Fire Department, and the Beach Safety Division was created. Surf Rescue has grown tremendously to where it is at present day operating as a Certified Lifeguard Agency under the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA).

Operation Hours
Lifeguards operate on a seasonal basis from March 1st to October 31st.
March to May: 10am-6pm
Memorial Day to Labor Day: 10am-8pm (6pm until sunset is a reduced workforce of lifeguards)
September to October 31st: 10am-6pm
November to February: NO LIFEGUARDS ON DUTY (Limited patrols & response)

**Operation hours are subject to change due to weather**

Lifeguard Staff
Our Lifeguard staff is comprised of 28 Employees
2 Full-Time: Beach Safety Chief and Beach Safety Supervisor
2 Part-Time: Beach Safety Supervisors
24 Temporary/Seasonal: Beach Safety Lifeguards

Coverage Areas

  • Lifeguards cover almost 8 miles of coastline ranging from Flora-Bama to the Gulf State Park Pavilion using static Lifeguard Towers and roving Lifeguard Units. 
  • Lifeguards have six static towers stationed at public beach access points: Tower 1 Shell Beach, Tower 2 Alabama Point East, Tower 3 Cotton Bayou East, Tower 4 Cotton Bayou West, Tower 5 COASTAL/Resident Beach, Tower 6 Romar Beach. (For a google map view of our towers please view the section below)
  • Roving Lifeguards cover the rest of the beach using 5 Honda UTV's, 2 Beach Trucks, and 2 Jet Ski's.

As Lifeguards our goal is to provide a safe beach environment for all of our visitors. Feel free to stop by any lifeguard tower to ask about current beach conditions or regulations.

Picture of current Orange Beach Surf Rescue Lifeguards


  1. Community Outreach
  1. How to become a Lifeguard
  1. Junior Lifeguard Program
  1. Molly's Patrol