Hurricane Idalia brings ‘dangerous conditions’ to Florida’s Atlantic Coast

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A holiday weekend coming off the heels of a major hurricane has created the perfect storm on our coast.

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Rip currents and rough surf will impact our beaches during Labor Day weekend.

Volusia County Beach Patrol said they are all hands on deck all weekend.

This past week’s storms have created rough surf and strong currents.

That’s why beachgoers will see a red flag flying all weekend and even some periods of beach closures.

Photos: Clean up underway in Cedar Key after Hurricane Idalia damages buildings, floods homes

Deputy Chief for Volusia County Beach Safety Tammy Malphurs is expecting long periods of closures for beach driving this Labor Day weekend due to high tides.

“The surf is picking up because of the storm systems out in the ocean right now, so we are looking at building surf and hazardous rip currents throughout the weekend,” she said

Maplhurs suggests beachgoers get there early and find an off-beach parking area.

Read: No power and nowhere to stay as rural Florida starts recovering from Hurricane Idalia

Beachgoers like Nicole Robinson hope the conditions keep people closer to shore.

“I wouldn’t go past the big wave like the first big wave because even the lifeguards are gonna have a hard time getting to you,” she said.

Robinson and her friend Neysa Barron said they struggled while swimming Friday.

“They can suck you in,” Barron said. “When we were out there, we were like ok, because they just pull.”

Read: Recovery efforts continue as weakened Idalia moves into Atlantic

Malphurs said the ocean likely won’t settle down until at least Monday.

“It will be the single red flag, but it’s still very dangerous,” she said.

Volusia County plans to have 40 to 50 staffed lifeguard towers this weekend.

Officials remind swimmers to stay in front of those and not go too far into the ocean.

Read: Hurricane Idalia: Tips to avoid post-storm scams

Cedar Key clean-up Andy Bair hangs a fish outside of his historic Cedar Key hotel after Hurricane Idalia. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up A lineman fixes a power line damaged during Hurricane Idalia. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up Mike Hodges stands next to debris piled outside of his family home following Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up A sign on a now-washed away beach in Cedar Key, FL following Hurricane Idalia. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up Leslie Fine looks at damaged buildings in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up Two people hug in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia in Cedar Key, FL. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up Debris piled on the main street of Cedar Key, FL following Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)

Cedar Key clean-up Cedar Key, Fl was damaged by wind and storm surge during Hurricane Idalia in August, 2023. (Nick Papantonis)

Tropical Weather Florida Lorena Torres, left, and Jorge Larancuent clean up debris from Hurricane Idalia Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida Jorge Larancuent cleans up debris from Hurricane Idalia at the Faraway Inn Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida The sign to the Faraway Inn is damaged as Jorge Laranacuent cleans up debris from Hurricane Idalia Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida Lorena Torres cleans up debris from Hurricane Idalia at the Faraway Inn, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida Andy Bair, owner of the Island Hotel and Restaurant closes up a storage area on his hotel that shows how high the water rose from the effects of Hurricane Idalia Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida Workers replace boards on a restaurant as they begin to rebuild Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla., after they were damaged by Hurricane Idalia. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida An inn bears damage from Hurricane Idalia, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida Workers replace boards on a restaurant in Cedar Key, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023., after they were damaged by Hurricane Idalia. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida Workers begin replacing the Hurricane Idalia damaged roof at Steamers restaurant Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

Tropical Weather Florida Lorena Torres, left, and Jorge Larancuent clean up debris from Hurricane Idalia at the Faraway Inn Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023, in Cedar Key, Fla. Idalia made landfall early Wednesday morning along Florida's panhandle. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) (Chris O'Meara)

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