JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The waves were blown out, the currents were dangerous, and forecasters were telling people to stay home. Some surfers showed up anyway.
Nor’easter conditions and elevated tides are creating hazardous conditions at beaches across Northeast Florida, and the National Weather Service issued a high surf advisory warning of life-threatening rip currents, minor tidal flooding, and waves expected to persist through Saturday.
News4JAX was on the ground at Jacksonville Beach, where waves reached 4 to 7 feet Thursday — with even larger surf forecast for Friday.
High surf and flooding expected through Saturday
A full harvest moon is contributing to unusually high tides, raising the risk of minor tidal flooding Thursday night and Friday morning. Wind gusts are expected to reach up to 35 mph.
Eddie Reinhold, a surfer, was honest about what the water looked like Thursday.
“Right now it’s just a blown-out mess, a lot of mush — you might get lucky if the current pushes you in the right kind of section,” Reinhold said.
Weather experts are urging swimmers to stay out of the surf zone entirely. Reinhold echoed that warning for anyone without experience.
“If you don’t know what you’re doing, stay out of the surf,” he said. “But it’s a good time — there’s people out there surfing, so you just got to be careful.”
Surfers say it’s the best waves all summer
For experienced surfers, the rough weather is a rare opportunity after a quiet summer on the water.
“Just get out there and have fun, enjoy the Florida surf while you can — we don’t have it all summer,” Reinhold said.
Fellow surfer Tristin Mullen described the challenge of paddling out in the conditions.
“Bro, it took me so long to paddle out because it just breaks weird,” Mullen said. “I probably had to duck dive like 20 different times to just get out. But this northeastern weather we’re getting is most definitely making it bigger.”
Fewer crowds, but caution still advised
The rough weather thinned out the usual beach crowd Thursday. Jacksonville Beach resident Jayvee Vegiga said he didn’t mind.
“I like it personally — less people here at the beach, but also a nice cool breeze,” Vegiga said.
Experts encourage surfers to know their limits and avoid surfing alone during the nor’easter. Conditions are expected to begin calming by Sunday.
