Both have been problematic for the last few weeks, but pictures of jellyfish and Portuguese Man o’ War are showing up more so on social media recently. Both popular tourist spots are flying yellow flags, indicating the presence of moderately rough surf and rip currents. Single Purple – Dangerous sea life present; Schools. So if you venture to the beach this weekend -- or any time in the future -- be sure to check the flags. They are rarely ever deadly to humans, however. Jellyfish are no strangers to the beaches along the Gulf, but the uptick in man o’ wars floating in coastal waters and washing up on beaches is a bit more alarming. Purple flags signal "dangerous marine life;" unfortunately, it does not specify what kind of marine life. While they may appear on the surface to look like a jellyfish, they are actually called siphonophores. But in coastal … Typically it … The risk for rip currents along the Alabama/Florida coast will reach low levels by Saturday and into next week. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. All rights reserved (About Us). When they find the fragile nests, they mark the buried eggs with neon tape and a sign indicating they are protected by the … We noticed right away that a purple flag, which means dangerous marine life, and a red flag with white lettering, which means beach is closed, were flying above the state park. Manatees can be found year-round in the waters of Florida, but when the heat of summer moves in, they head out and move up to the central Gulf -- the Alabama Gulf Coast-- where they are found in water anywhere from 3 to 7 feet like those found in Mobile Bay or 10 to 16 feet deep in the Gulf waters. Copyright 2020 WSFA 12 News. Also, keep a close eye on the flags. It looks like the Portuguese Man O’ War – the large jellyfish-like creature capable of killing marine animals and stinging humans – are gone from Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. When a red flag is flying, high surf and rip currents are present. If stung by a jellyfish apply vinegar and meat tenderizer. Stingrays. If you are caught in a current, relax as much as possible and swim parallel to the shore until you are free from the current. When they show up on beaches, it’s because of storms, wind and currents pushing them from deep water to shallow water. If you are caught in a rip current, experts advise: not fighting the current; swimming out of the current then to shore; if you can’t escape, float or tread water; call for assistance. Instead, he caught a shark. of these man o’ wars can be quite terrifying since the tentacles are hidden under surface. Purple flags and red flags – indicating dangerous surf and currents – were flying at both locations since Thursday. Sharks. Check out this recent blog outlining everything you need to know when swimming with dolphins in Panama City Beach The most popular of all Gulf Coast sea creatures is the bottlenose dolphin! Both cities have automated numbers that you can call and check the flag conditions and what flags are flying. That includes the one at the top of this story, which was seen in Gulf Shores. Not only are dolphins one of the most intelligent and happy creatures in the world, they are also among the friendliest towards humans. Any idea what this means (other than the basic: Medium threat/dangerous marine life)? Purple flags indicate dangerous marine life possibly nearby. While on the beach, always keep a close eye on the water. All rights reserved. Careful. ... Gulf Shores, AL 36547 ... Bama Beach Life. If you see a purple one flying, know that jellyfish, stingrays, Portuguese Man o’ War, or other dangerous fish are present. … PO Box 5454 . Both Orange Beach and Gulf Shores have taken down the purple flags, flown when potentially dangerous marine life is present. Rip currents are life-threatening water streams that often occur in the vicinity of inlets, jetties and piers. In other words, these man o’ wars are not just one creature; they’re dozens or hundreds working together to sustain life. That means the largest (or is it longest?) Portuguese Man o’ War may not show up near your beach of choosing, but if you do see one, the likelihood of seeing others is quite high. Purple flags indicating the presence of dangerous marine animals are flying again today at Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Siphonophores are an odd group of animals that consist of colonies made up of dozens, hundreds, or more of genetically-identical individual creatures. Pods of bottlenose dolphins can number from 10 to 25 as they roam the coast, hunting for tasty mullet and playing in the wake. Their arrival is just in time for sea turtle hatchlings to get a quick meal as they head into the open waters of the Gulf. That’s because their stings can not only paralyze and kill other marine life, but they are extremely and excruciatingly painful to humans. Although a new middle school is “in the works for Orange Beach”, right now the only public school in the city is: Orange Beach Elementary 4900 Wilson Blvd Website. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). He is the Morning Meteorologist, and you can catch his forecasts Monday-Friday on Today in Alabama. Not only can their tentacles sting you while they float aimlessly in the water, but a beached man o’ war can sting you. After walking the long boardwalk to the Gulf, we knew immediately why both flags were being used. 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