Big Surf Now Runs From the Outer Banks to Palm Beach

The long coastal storm that closed Hatteras Island this weekend is now sending dangerous surf down the whole Southeast coast. Weather Service offices from Jacksonville to Miami have high surf advisories and high rip current risk on Monday, October 19.

The forecast breakers: 6 to 8 feet on the Southeast Georgia beaches until 5 a.m. Tuesday; 7 to 10 feet in Nassau, Duval, St. Johns and Flagler counties until 8 p.m. Tuesday, with minor coastal flooding along the beaches and the St. Johns River until 4 a.m. Thursday; 6 to 10 feet from Volusia through Martin County, including Brevard, until 4 a.m. Wednesday; 7 to 12 feet in Palm Beach County until 8 a.m. Wednesday; and 6 to 8 feet in Broward on Monday and Tuesday. High rip current risk runs through Wednesday night in northeast Florida and Thursday evening in South Florida.

In North Carolina, the coastal flood warnings for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, for 2 to 4 feet of water in low-lying areas, now run until 8 p.m. Wednesday, a day longer than Sunday's forecast. Surf of 10 to 14 feet on Hatteras Island and 9 to 12 feet on the Northern Outer Banks continues until 6 a.m. Thursday. Hatteras Island was still closed to visitors in the seashore's latest update, and Ocracoke ferries were suspended.

This is surf for experienced surfers only. The Weather Service warns that rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away, and that the surf will bring dangerous swimming conditions and localized beach erosion.