photo credit :: vicequeenmaria
BEACH WARNING FLAGS
[Double Red Flag] Water Closed to Public
High Hazard
High Surf and/or Strong Currents
Medium Hazard
Moderate Surf and/or Currents
Low Hazard
Calm Conditions, Exercise Caution
[Purple Flag] Dangerous Marine Life
Today, December 29th, 2009, is the first day I’ve seen the 41st Street Lifeguard tower without the purple Dangerous Marine Life flag flying.
On your typical summer and fall day in Miami Beach, the tower has both the yellow and purple flags flying, but today,
shortly after the Winter Solstice,
the lifeguard tower only has the green Low Hazard flag on display.
Of course, the sign doesn’t fail to include the disclaimer
Absence of Flags Does Not Assure Safe Waters,
but, still, there must be enough of a notable absence of dangerous marine life during this colder time of year for the lifeguards not to fly the purple flag. Less jellyfish, less stingrays, less sharks.
That said, there were considerably less people swimming in the ocean, too. I think there’s a positive correlation here.
