Marine Weather and Tide Forecast for Gulf Shores, AL

DISCUSSION
Issued at 1123 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026

Now through Thursday...

For today through the weekend, a pair of cold fronts cross the forecast area as a pair of upper level shortwaves pass over the Southeast. The first shortwave/cold front passes over the region Friday, ushering in a colder and drier airmass. With moisture return negligible ahead of this front, any precipitation is expected to be well offshore and light. A strong cold front moves across the forecast area Saturday in response to a stronger upper level shortwave moving over the Southeast later Friday night through Saturday. This second front will enhance the cold airmass over the forecast area. Temperatures in the mid 50s to low 60s Friday drop into the upper teens to mid 20s over most of the forecast area Friday night. With strong winds, wind chills are expected to bottom out in the single digits to mid teens Friday night. The second shot of cold air Saturday will limit high temperatures over the forecast area to the 30s Saturday, with wind chills creeping into the 20s over the forecast area. The second shot of cold air will drop low temperatures into the teens over the forecast area Saturday night, with wind chills dropping into the single digits over the forecast area. Have upgraded The Excessive Cold Watch to a Warning. With strong and gusty winds over our open Gulf waters, have issued a Wind advisory for our coastal zones for the Friday night into Sunday morning as these stronger winds may affect near coastal areas.
Conditions begin to settle Sunday as surface high pressure begins to move east over the Lower Mississippi River Valley.

In the coming week, surface high pressure moves over the forecast area Monday night into Tuesday, shifting onshore flow back to onshore by Tuesday. A modest moisture return occurs by mid week before another front moves over the forecast area Wednesday.
Deterministic guidance has come into better agreement with the front's passage. Temperatures rise back to near seasonal norms ahead of the front, dropping below behind.

Offshore flow through most of the forecast will limit any swell, keeping the Rip Risk low through the weekend into the coming week.
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AVIATION
(12Z TAFS)
Issued at 530 AM CST Fri Jan 30 2026

VFR flight category prevails across the region through tonight.
Winds remain out of the northwest at around 5 to 10 knots today, increasing to 10 to 15 knots with gusts over 20 knots by mid evening in the wake of a cold front. MM/25

MARINE
Issued at 1123 PM CST Thu Jan 29 2026

Weak onshore flow shifts to moderate to strong Friday as a cold front passes. A reinforcing front passes Saturday, keeping offshore flow strong to very strong into Sunday. A Gale Warning is in effect for open Gulf waters and Mobile Bay beginning late Friday night, with a Small Craft Advisory likely to be issued for protected waters Thursday. Surface high pressure approaches area waters late Sunday into the coming week, easing winds over area waters into Monday, then shifting them to onshore in the coming week.
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PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS
Mobile 59 26 36 19 / 0 0 0 0 Pensacola 62 29 36 22 / 0 0 0 0 Destin 61 30 38 23 / 10 0 0 0 Evergreen 57 22 33 16 / 0 0 0 0 Waynesboro 52 19 32 17 / 10 0 0 0 Camden 53 19 31 16 / 10 0 0 0 Crestview 62 25 35 16 / 10 0 0 0

MOB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES
AL...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to noon CST Sunday for ALZ051>060-261>266.

Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Sunday for ALZ265-266.

FL...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to noon CST Sunday for FLZ201>206.

Wind Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Sunday for FLZ202-204-206.

MS...Extreme Cold Warning from midnight tonight to noon CST Sunday for MSZ067-075-076-078-079.

GM...Gale Warning from 6 PM this evening to midnight CST Saturday night for GMZ630>632.

Small Craft Advisory from midnight Saturday night to 10 AM CST Sunday for GMZ630>632.

Small Craft Advisory from 6 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Sunday for GMZ633>636.

Gale Warning from 6 PM this evening to 10 AM CST Sunday for GMZ650-655-670-675.