What Do Each Colored Flag on Maine’s Beaches Mean?

As spring slowly turns into summer, more and more people will be headed to the beach soon. If you're at a beach with a lifeguard on duty, you may want to familiarize yourself with the colored flags used to warn and inform swimmers.

The Abellona Inn and Suites in Old Orchard Beach has a nice guide letting you know what each colored flag indicates to people enjoying their time at the beach.

Red Flag

A red flag means there are strong currents, rip currents, or hazardous conditions. You should avoid swimming when you see an area marked with a red flag.

Yellow Flag

A yellow flag means there are moderate conditions like strong waves or currents. Just like a blinking yellow light, proceed with caution in the water.

Green Flag

The green flag means all is good. The water is calm and it's safe to swim where there are green flags.

READ MORE: Maine Was Just Named Home to One of the Best Beaches in the Country

Purple Flag

The purple flag means that jellyfish, algae, or other water pests could be in the water. Check with your lifeguard before you go in the water, just to be on the safe side.

Red Over Yellow Flag

A red over a yellow flag looks like a warning of something bad, but it indicates that that area of the beach is a supervised swimming area with lifeguards on duty.

Double Red Flags

The double red flag warns of a high-risk situation in the water, such as a strong rip current or a shark sighting. When you see a double red flag, swimming is prohibited in that area.