Are there jellyfish in Perdido Key?
Yes, jellyfish appear seasonally at Perdido Key, most commonly in the warmer water of late summer when onshore winds push them toward the beach. When they've been spotted, lifeguards fly a purple flag. Most stings here are painful but minor.
When and what
The usual late-summer culprits are moon jellies (largely harmless), sea nettles, and occasionally the more painful Portuguese man-o'-war, which blows in on the wind. Onshore winds are what bring them ashore, so a stretch of wind out of the south raises the odds.
The purple flag
A purple flag means dangerous marine life — usually jellyfish — has been spotted. It flies alongside the regular surf flag, not instead of it, so a beach can be green-and-purple (calm water, but watch for jellies). We show the current flags on Beach Today.
If you get stung
Rinse the area with vinegar or seawater (not fresh water, which can trigger more stingers), carefully remove any tentacles, and soak in hot water. Seek medical help for a man-o'-war sting, a large reaction, or any trouble breathing.
Reviewed June 2026. Conditions change daily — for live numbers see Beach Today.