DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Dangerous surf, strong winds and the threat of coastal flooding are putting Central Florida’s coastline on alert as king tides bring unusually high water levels to area beaches.
Volusia County is under multiple weather alerts, including a flood warning, coastal flood warning, wind advisory and high surf advisory.
Some of those alerts are expected to remain in place for several days as conditions continue to develop.
Tides Monday morning could rise to more than five feet, increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying coastal areas.
Officials warn that flooding can occur even without rain as elevated tides push water farther inland.
King tides are exceptionally high tides that occur at certain times of the year when the gravitational forces of the moon, sun and Earth align to produce higher-than-usual water levels.
The dangerous conditions are already affecting beaches farther south.
On Sunday, Brevard County officials closed all beach access points as rough surf and strong winds created hazardous conditions.
“The wind is picking up like crazy,” surfer Callum Horgan said.
Despite the worsening conditions, some surfers said they were surprised by the extent of the closures.
In Volusia County, waves are reaching heights of 6 to 10 feet, creating dangerous conditions for swimmers and surfers.
County officials are urging people to stay away from hazardous beach areas as conditions could get worse before improving.
The rough surf and elevated water levels come just days after Volusia County introduced a new beach flag warning system designed to help beachgoers understand ocean conditions and recognize potential dangers.
With multiple weather alerts in effect and king tides potentially lasting several days, residents and visitors are being urged to use caution along the coast, pay attention to beach warnings and follow instructions from local officials.
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