Latest update:
As of Thursday morning, the flags in Gulf Shores have been upgraded to red, indicating the presence of dangerous surf.
Earlier story:
With chances for wet and stormy Memorial Day increasing, surf conditions along the Gulf Coast range from moderate to severe.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring a system dubbed Invest 90L that could dump torrential rains on the coast just in time for the busy holiday weekend. The storm could also cause potentially dangerous surf and rip tide conditions along the Gulf Coast.
Single red flags are currently flying in Panama City, indicating the presence of high dangerous surf and strong currents. The water remains open, however, unless double red flags are posted in the coming days.
Single red flags are also flying in Destin and South Walton.
"Be extremely careful if you insist on entering the water," officials with the South Walton Fire Department said in its conditions update.
Yellow flags indicating moderate surf or conditions are flying in Gulf Shores.
The approaching storms are also raising the risk for dangerous rip currents.
The National Weather Service in Mobile has raised the rip current risk for Friday into Saturday night to high, meaning life-threatening currents are likely and that the surf is dangerous for all levels of swimmers. If caught in a rip current, swimmers are advised to swim out of the current and then head to shore or, if that's not an option, to float or tread water while calling for help.