Flags tell you what the water is doing before you get in, but not every operator uses them. The Village of East Hampton flies a four-color system at its beaches. The Town of East Hampton permits swimming only when lifeguards are on duty, inside designated areas. Warning flags are not used everywhere and their meaning can vary, so ask the guard on duty.
Read this alongside the lifeguard calendar for when guards are on, and the rip current guide for what the water can do.
What the flags mean
- Green: calm conditions
- Yellow: use caution
- Red: dangerous, stay out
- No flag: swimming prohibited
The Village of East Hampton system
The Village runs guards at Main, Georgica and Two Mile Hollow beaches, 10am to 5pm from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. No fishing, watercraft or surfboards are allowed in designated swimming areas. Lifeguards will answer questions about the ocean, and the Main Beach office number is 631-324-0074.
Town beaches
The Town of East Hampton allows swimming only when lifeguards are on duty and within designated areas. It also prohibits smoking within 500 feet of protected swimming areas during lifeguarded hours, and alcohol within 1,000 feet of the road end during lifeguard hours. The Town of Southampton allows swimming in protected areas only.
Where there are no flags
At beaches such as Egypt, Wiborg and the Southampton Village road ends, no lifeguard is on duty, so you swim at your own risk. Read what to do at unguarded beaches. Southampton Village Ocean Rescue, a volunteer first-responder group, responds through 911.
Questions
What does a red flag mean at a Hamptons beach?
At East Hampton Village beaches a red flag means dangerous conditions. No flag means swimming is prohibited.
Do all Hamptons beaches use flags?
No. Warning flags are not used everywhere and their meanings vary. Ask the lifeguard on duty.