Why this matters
There is no honest single beach-safety score. Surf height, rip-current risk, lightning, flags, water quality, tide, wind and visibility are different measurements with different locations and timestamps.
What to compare
Start with the NWS surf-zone forecast, then read posted beach flags and any local patrol direction. Add NOAA tide and water observations only when they apply to the place and decision you are making.
What changes
Conditions can change within a day, and a calm-looking surface can still contain a current. Jetties, passes and structures create local hazards that an area-wide label cannot describe.
Make the next decision
Open each child guide to understand the signal, then use the live Island Conditions strip for today's source links. At the beach, current posted instructions outrank this guide.
Current source
Use NWS Brownsville Beachcast for the current operational detail. Check its date, location and scope before allowing a price, time, rule, forecast or availability statement to control the trip.