This Is What the Purple Flag On Texas Beaches Mean

Get our free mobile app

It' summer time in Texas and that means a lot of people from the state and across America come to the state to visit our beaches. And that is great, but that doesn't always mean that conditions are great for splashing around in the water or on the beach.

In the past and for sure in the future, if you go to the beach in Galveston you might see a purple flag waving above the beach. So what does the purple flag mean? Don't worry it doesn't mean your trespassing on a private beach or anything. Instead, it basically means watch where you step. According to the Houston Chronicle, when the purple flag is waving over the beach, watch out for jellyfish and other sea life that could hurt.

The eye-catching flags serve as a warning to beach-goers of potential encounters with jellyfish, Portuguese man-o-war, stingrays, or other marine life that could be a hazard for swimmers, according to the Galveston Island Beach Patrol. "While we've seen an increase in the overall number of jellyfish compared to previous months it has still been within a normal range, aside from a few times when we've flown out the purple flag to notify the public," wrote Peter Davis, chief of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol, in an emailed statement.

So the next time you head to Galveston beach and the purple flag is flying, watch where you step.