Volusia County beaches closed to driving due to high tides Saturday
Volusia County's beaches are closed to driving due to extremely high tides, a Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue official said.
Deputy Chief Tammy Malphurs said high tide wasn't supposed to occur until about 2:30 p.m.
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The conditions were expected as parts of Volusia County were deluged with heavy rain in recent days.
Memorial Day weekend weather
Despite the high tides, beachgoers can otherwise expect pleasant weather but should be cautious given the rough surf and rip current conditions.
A high surf advisory is in effect until 4 p.m. Saturday; there's also a high risk of rip currents in effect through late Saturday night, according to the National Weather Service.
Here's what the forecast is calling for:
Saturday: Mostly sunny skies; high near 80 degrees; north winds about 15 mph and gusts as high as 25 mph.
Sunday: Mostly sunny skies; high of about 82 degrees; west-northwest winds of 5-10 mph.
Monday: Mostly sunny skies; high of about 85 degrees; northwest winds of 5-10 mph.
New-ish faces patrolling the beach
While beach safety officers will continue to manage the beach and provide lifeguard and emergency medical services, residents and visitors should expect to see members of the Volusia Sheriff's Office handling law enforcement.
Additionally, special event zones went into effect Saturday morning in anticipation of "potentially disruptive" pop-up events.
Deputies out working the beachside area want YOU to have a safe Memorial Day weekend. They’ve been stopping reckless drivers & already recovered a handgun, extended magazine & ski mask on a traffic stop. Shout out to @DaytonaBchPD for the teamwork. Let’s all be safe out there! pic.twitter.com/HDG8Y5FgN1
— Volusia Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) May 27, 2023
The zones would remain in place "as long as is reasonably necessary to ensure the public health, safety and welfare" of residents and visitors, according to a Friday news release from the sheriff's office.
The law that went into effect last year gives top cops, such as Sheriff Mike Chitwood, the ability to show "zero tolerance" for violations in the special events zones. It also doubles all fines, and vehicles involved in noncriminal or criminal traffic infractions and violations are subject to impoundment.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia County beaches closed to driving due to high tides Saturday
