Hurricane Earl Could Bring 13-Foot Waves To Coast

Massive Hurricane Earl will move closer to Central Florida's coast Wednesday night and the giant waves on our shores could soon grow as tall as 13 feet, but officials won't close the beaches.

EARL: Computer Models | 5-Day Forecast Path SEE STORM: Bahamas | Atlantic Radar | Loop HURRICANE SECTION: Tropical Weather News, Resources

The waves were already hitting the tops of the pilings under the Cocoa Beach pier Wednesday afternoon and only surfers were out there. Most swimmers were using common sense and staying out, because rescues from lifeguards have dropped dramatically, with only seven all day Wednesday.

The waves may be two or three times the norm along Brevard County's coastline. Red flags are flying and lifeguards have been doubled. Most beachgoers are staying close to shore.

"The lifeguard is warning people up and down the beach, you know, not to go in, but it's to keep us cool 'cause it's hot out here," beachgoer Everlyn Perez told WFTV.

Hurricane Earl Satellite 090110 5pm Hurricane Earl at 5:00pm on Sept. 1, 2010 Hurricane Earl at 5:00pm on Sept. 1, 2010 Beaches have been closed under mandatory evacuations during hurricanes and when bacteria levels have proven to be unhealthy, but never just because of rough surf.

Rip currents are hard to see when the water is rough, but lifeguards say they're created when the waves come in from all directions; it creates a channel in the center and that water has to go somewhere. If you get in that center channel, that's when you've got a problem.

Perez said she could see the benefit of closing the beach.

"It's better that way to keep everybody safe," she said.

But many surfers told WFTV nothing will keep everyone out of the water and a closure would likely drive people into areas that aren't protected by lifeguards.

"I think people would probably go out there anyway, especially people further down the streets where there's not, like, patrol or anything," Cocoa Beach surfer Riley Roberts said.

Organizers preparing for a surf festival in Cocoa Beach this weekend (surf competition info) say other parts of the country see waves this big all the time and never consider closing off access.

"People just got to use a little sense," said Phil Salick, NHK Surf Festival.

Closing beaches won't save much money either. The county added eight lifeguards to shifts this week costing less than $1,000 a day. Shutting them down might cost more in order to bring in police to patrol closed beaches.

The lifeguards say their measures are working; no one has been seriously injured or died in any protected beaches.

Even once Earl moves away, it isn't necessarily safe to get back in the water.

"It's going to cut some channels in our sand bars and it's something that we are going to have to evaluate after the waves pass and we'll have to evaluate after the waves pass and see where the hot spots are," Scabaroze said.

Cruise boats based out of Port Canaveral are also dealing with Hurricane Earl. Royal Caribbean is altering itineraries and Disney Cruise Lines is monitoring the path of the storm.