89°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
51%
22
Baldwin County, AL · Gulf of Mexico
Gulf Shores Public Beach
101 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Alabama's flagship public beach — wide sugar-white quartz sand at the south end of AL-59. The Hangout (the local landmark restaurant/concert venue) is on the beach. Family Gulf coast in classic form; the boardwalk is short but the beach goes for miles east and west.
Today's Conditions
Skip the beach today.
Thunderstorms · 51% rain · NWS alert active
Full NWS forecast for Today
A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Tonight
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 7pm and 1am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 4am, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 79. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Weather
- 89°F air — hot — hydrate and seek shade
- 51% rain — rain likely at some point
Water
- 87°F water — warm — full-day swim weather
Safety
- Thunderstorms — stay off the water when storms approach
- UV 12 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — flood advisory issued july 12 at 9:07am cdt until july 12 at 12:00pm cdt by nws mobile al
12 /100
skip
0 Swim
32 Sunbathe
8 Walk
0 Fish
24 Photo
Best for sunbathing today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Weather alert in effect
Flood Advisory issued July 12 at 9:07AM CDT until July 12 at 12:00PM CDT by NWS Mobile AL
Atmosphere
Air Temp
89°F
Thunderstorms and Rain
Wind
5 to 15 mph
W
Rain
51%
Today
UV Peak
12 Extreme
High 10 AM–03 PM · burn in ~17m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
86°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Water
Water Temp
87°F
Swimming weather
Next Low Tide
8:39 PM
-0.5 ft · in 5.4h
Barometer
30.15 inHg
1021 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 7mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (GMZ650)
The MOB office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- ALZ265 Mobile Coastal-Baldwin Coastal — Dauphin Island, Fort Morgan, Gulf Shores, n/a
- FLZ202 Escambia Coastal-Santa Rosa Coastal-Okaloosa Coastal — Pensacola Beach, Gulf Breeze, Navarre Beach, n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:57 AM
Sunset
8:54 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 8:46 AM | High | 1.9 ft |
| 8:39 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 9:41 AM | High | 1.9 ft |
| 9:41 PM | Low | -0.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 10:37 AM | High | 1.9 ft |
| 10:37 PM | Low | -0.4 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 11:31 AM | High | 1.7 ft |
| 11:24 PM | Low | -0.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:23 PM | High | 1.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| 1:09 PM | High | 1.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:18 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 1:36 PM | High | 0.9 ft |
| 11:13 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8735180, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
86°
Showers And Thunderstorms
82%
5
89°
Showers And Thunderstorms
77%
10
89°
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
60%
20
92°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
27%
33
93°
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
23%
34
93°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
29%
31
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 12 — very high
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 5 to 15 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 87°F
- optional Light cover-up, watch for pop-ups 51% rain chance
- critical Extra water / electrolytes 89°F - heat risk
- recommended Cooling towel or hat sustained heat
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Major
10:40 PM - 12:40 AM
Minor
4:20 AM - 5:20 AM
Major
11:20 AM - 1:20 PM
Minor
7:20 PM - 8:20 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Paid public lot at Gulf Place; free lots at Gulf State Park further east. Metered street parking on Beach Blvd.
Dogs
Pets prohibited on Gulf Shores sand beaches year-round (not seasonal). Off-leash dog beach at Lake Shelby in Gulf State Park year-round.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
101 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Gulf Shores Public Beach today?
Gulf Shores Public Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Gulf Shores Public Beach dog-friendly?
Pets prohibited on Gulf Shores sand beaches year-round (not seasonal). Off-leash dog beach at Lake Shelby in Gulf State Park year-round.
Is there an entry fee at Gulf Shores Public Beach?
Entry to Gulf Shores Public Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Gulf Shores Public Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Gulf Shores Public Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Gulf Shores Public Beach?
Amenities at Gulf Shores Public Beach include lifeguards, restaurants, restrooms, showers, shops, pavilion.
When is the water warmest at Gulf Shores Public Beach?
The Gulf of Mexico is bathwater-warm by mid-summer — 84-88°F is typical from July through September on the FL Gulf, TX coast, and AL/MS coast. Swimming comfortable from April through October on most of the Gulf.
Where is Gulf Shores Public Beach located?
Gulf Shores Public Beach is in Baldwin County, AL, at 101 E Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS