Purple beach flags: What do they mean?

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — With the summer season still in full swing, the beaches across our region continue to experience a high volume of visitors. Not only that, but with Labor Day weekend approaching, people will be looking to jump in the water to celebrate the holiday and cool off in the heat.

Taking dips into the water to cool off is certainly recommended, but it is also important that we stay safe while doing it. That is why it is so important to pay attention to lifeguards and know what different color beach flags are telling you.

Speaking of beach flags, we have all seen the green, yellow and red flags. A green flag means that ocean conditions are calm and it is recommended that you exercise caution since the ocean is never truly safe. A yellow flag means the hazard level is medium due to moderate surf and/or rip currents. Next, we have the red flag, which indicates the highest hazard level due to high surf and/or strong rip currents. Finally, there is the double red flag which means that the water is closed to public use.

Now, you might have noticed there is one more flag color that the United States Lifesaving Association promotes on beach flag signs. That flag color is the purple flag, which is not typically put up very often.

The purple flag is meant to warn beachgoers of dangerous marine life. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “If a purple flag is up that must mean that a shark was spotted in the area.” The answer to that is no!

In fact, according to the USLA, a purple flag is not meant to indicate the presence of sharks at all but instead, it warns of dangerous jellyfish species like the Man-o-War, which have the potential of delivering a painful sting. Additionally, it warns of a high concentration of stingrays.

Stingrays are typically afraid of humans, but if they are stepped on or feel threatened, they can cause harm with their sharp tails.

If a shark ever happens to be spotted, lifeguards will either raise the red or double red flags, which indicates that it is not safe to enter the water. Additionally, beaches may even plant signs in the sand that state that a shark was spotted.

That said, when you see the purple flags in the air that does not mean that the water is closed for swimming. However, it is best to talk to a lifeguard before going in to ask what to look out for and to always keep an eye on your surroundings and swim where lifeguards are on duty.