Is it a bad day to surf?
It's fine, not great. Sarasota-area Gulf: waves 5.2 ft, period 6 s, wind 10.3 mph cross-shore (N), rip Low.
Buoy and pier observations (NDBC)
| Station | Obs time | WVHT | DPD s | MWD | Wind | WDIR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42013 | Oct 29, 5:35 AM ET | – | – | – | 17.9 mph | NE (40°) |
| 42036 | Oct 29, 6:50 AM ET | 5.2 ft | 6 | NE (50°) | 20.1 mph | NE (40°) |
| VENF1 | Oct 29, 6:50 AM ET | – | – | – | 10.3 mph | NE (40°) |
Source: NDBC — 42013 (USF COMPS C10), 42036 (West Tampa), VENF1 (Venice). Values as reported.
NWS surf zone (Coastal Sarasota)
| Rip Current Risk | Low |
| Surf Height | 1 foot or less |
| Thunderstorm Potential | None |
| UV Index | Moderate |
| Water Temperature | In the mid 70s |
| Weather | Mostly sunny |
| High Temperature | In the mid 80s |
| Winds | Northeast winds around 15 mph |
| Saint Petersburg | Low at 11:38 AM EDT |
| Venice Inlet | Low at 10:00 AM EDT |
TODAY · Pinellas, Coastal Hillsborough, Coastal Manatee, Coastal Sarasota · issued 2026-10-29T07:30:00+00:00 · NWS Tampa Bay beach page.
Tides
| Time | Tide | Height (ft, MLLW) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-29 01:30 | High | 2.71 |
| 2026-10-29 10:40 | Low | -0.22 |
| 2026-10-30 02:18 | High | 2.64 |
| 2026-10-30 11:43 | Low | -0.15 |
| 2026-10-31 03:17 | High | 2.47 |
| 2026-10-31 12:52 | Low | -0.04 |
| 2026-11-01 03:35 | High | 2.25 |
| 2026-11-01 13:03 | Low | 0.09 |
NOAA CO-OPS predictions, station 8726083 Sarasota, Sarasota Bay (subordinate; high/low only), local time. NWS also lists Venice Inlet: Low at 10:00 AM EDT. Tide is shown for planning and is not scored (Gulf beach breaks vary by sandbar).
Right now tide is falling at Sarasota Bay.
How the verdict works
Rule: each check gets Good, Meh or Bad. The verdict is the worst of them. Heat-index bands follow the NWS heat index chart; every other threshold is ours.
| Check | Input | Thresholds | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| NWS surf / marine / beach alerts | None | High Surf / Hazardous Seas / Gale / Storm / Hurricane / Tropical / Rip Current Warning etc. = Bad; other matching advisories = Meh | Good |
| Rip current risk (NWS surf zone) | Low (TODAY) | High = Bad; Moderate = Meh; Low = Good | Good |
| Significant wave height | 5.2 ft (NDBC 42036 1.6 m) | Gulf-tuned: under 1.5 ft = Bad (flat); 1.5–2.4 ft with period ≥5 s = Meh; 2.5–8.9 ft with period ≥6 s = Good (if period is only 5 s → Meh); 9+ ft = Bad | Good |
| Dominant wave period | 6 s | Gulf-tuned: under 4 s = Bad; 4–5 s = Meh; 6+ s = Good (5 s is not Bad) | Good |
| Nearshore wind speed | 10.3 mph (gust 13.9) · NDBC VENF1 | 20+ mph = Bad; 13–19 = Meh; under 13 = Good | Good |
| Wind vs shore (west-facing Gulf) | NE (40°) → cross-shore (N) | At 8+ mph: offshore (E quadrant) = Good; onshore (W) or cross = Meh. Under 8 mph = Good either way | Meh |
| Thunder chance (next ~6 land hours) | 0% | 40%+ = Bad; 20–39% = Meh | Good |
Result: worst = Meh.
Gulf-tuned thresholds: wave and period cutoffs are sized for Sarasota-area Gulf beach breaks, not East Coast swell. Offshore vs onshore (west-facing beaches): east winds (45–135°) are offshore; west winds (225–315°) are onshore.
How we know
NDBC buoy/pier observations, NWS surf-zone forecast, NWS alerts and NOAA tide predictions, pulled hourly.
- NDBC / USF COMPS station 42013 (C10, West Florida Shelf): Closest standard NDBC-reported buoy to Sarasota (about 25 nm west of Venice). Wind and waves when the sensors report them. U.S. government / COMPS data via NDBC, public for reuse with credit.
- NDBC station 42036 (West Tampa): NDBC moored buoy with reliable significant wave height, dominant period and mean wave direction. Farther offshore than 42013. U.S. government data, public domain.
- NDBC station VENF1 (Venice, FL): Nearshore Venice pier/met station used for local wind speed and direction. Does not report waves. U.S. government data via NDBC, public domain.
- NWS Tampa Bay Surf Zone Forecast (Coastal Sarasota): Rip current risk, surf height, thunderstorm potential, UV and water temperature for Siesta Key, Turtle Beach and Venice.
- NWS Tampa Bay coastal waters forecasts (GMZ853, GMZ873): Official NWS marine forecasts for wind, seas and bay/inland waters from Englewood to Tarpon Springs, out 20 NM (GMZ853) and 20–60 NM (GMZ873). U.S. government data, public domain.
- National Weather Service API (api.weather.gov), hourly forecast and alerts for Siesta Key: Official NWS hourly forecast (temperature, chance of precipitation, wind) and active alerts. U.S. government data, public domain.
- NOAA CO-OPS tide predictions, station 8726083 Sarasota, Sarasota Bay: Predicted high and low tides for Sarasota Bay. NOAA tide predictions are public domain.
- NWS observations, Sarasota-Bradenton airport (KSRQ): Recent pressure and precipitation observations used for pressure trend and the hiking mosquito rule. U.S. government data, public domain.
Last updated: page rebuilt October 29, 2026. Data status: outdoor: ok, last good October 29, 2026 · beach: ok, last good October 29, 2026.
FAQ
What beaches is this for?
West-facing Sarasota-area Gulf beaches: Siesta Key, Lido, Turtle Beach, Venice, Manasota and nearby. Wind shore-relative uses that west-facing orientation.
Which buoy do you use?
Wave height: NDBC 42013 (USF COMPS C10) and NDBC 42036 (West Tampa). Nearshore wind: NDBC VENF1 (Venice).
Does tide change the verdict?
No. We show NOAA CO-OPS highs/lows and the NWS Venice Inlet line for planning. Tide is not scored because Gulf beach-break quality varies by sandbar.
How often does it update?
Hourly, with the other Life weather pages.
Are these thresholds for the East Coast?
No. Wave and period cutoffs on this page are tuned for the Gulf, not the East Coast — anything surfable here should count.
Is the Gulf ever really surfable here?
Yes, usually after a cold front or tropical swell. Most days are small; that is why flat scores Bad on this page.
Do you cover Longboat or Anna Maria?
Same west-facing Gulf orientation and the same NWS Coastal Sarasota / Manatee surf-zone group. Conditions are close enough for this check.