Red flag warning issued for Volusia County beachgoers over holiday weekend
UP IN THE NEXT 15 MINUTES. AND THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND IS BRINGING BIG, BRINGING BIG CROWDS TO CENTRAL FLORIDA BEACHES. AND WITH IT COMES A DANGEROUS HAZARD. FOR THOSE THAT ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE OCEAN. WESH TWO SENAIT GEBREGIORGIS IS JOINING US LIVE FROM DAYTONA BEACH, WHERE OFFICIALS ARE WARNING PEOPLE OF CHOPPY WATERS OUT THERE TONIGHT. YEAH, LUANA THERE’S HIGH TIDE AND RIP CURRENTS ARE REALLY BAD RIGHT NOW, WHICH IS WHY YOU’LL SEE THAT WARNING FLAG WAVING AND LIFEGUARDS SPREAD OUT AT LAST CHECK. BEACH SAFETY SAYS THERE WERE NO RESCUES TODAY SO FAR, BUT YESTERDAY WAS A BUSY ONE WITH A COUPLE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO BE PULLED FROM THE WATER. TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE CITY AND JUST GET IN THE WATER. YOU KNOW, IT’S WONDERFUL. I LOVE THE CROWD ANYWAY. I MEAN, I’M JUST GOING TO GO OUT HERE AND MAKE SOME NEW FRIENDS. AS BEACHGOERS CONTINUE THE HOLIDAY CELEBRATIONS IN NEW SMYRNA BEACH, A RED FLAG IS WAVING TO WARN THEM ABOUT THE WATER. I WOULD SAY WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE, A LOT MORE CALMER, BUT THE CURRENTS IS PRETTY BAD. I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY WHEN YOU GO PAST THE SANDBAR, YOU HAVE THE UNDERTOW. IT DEFINITELY SUCKS YOU IN. VOLUSIA COUNTY BEACH SAFETY SAYS A 65 LIFEGUARD TOWERS ARE STAFFED TO KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON THE BIG CROWDS, AND SWIMMERS ARE ADVISED TO STAY CLOSE TO THEM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE THREAT OF RIP CURRENTS AND STRONG STORMS. I TYPICALLY DON’T REALLY GET IN THE WATER. I TAN, THE WATER’S A LITTLE WARM OVER THERE IN THE GULF, SO IT’S NICE TO GET OVER HERE. IT’S REFRESHING AND JUST CHANGE OF SCENERY. MY DAUGHTER WANTS TO GET IN THE WATER, BUT I DON’T NORMALLY GET IN THE WATER, SO I’M GONNA PROTECT MYSELF BY STAYING ON THE SAND. BEACH SAFETY SAYS THE STORM SEASON IN FLORIDA MEANS LIGHTNING CAN STRIKE AS FAR AS TEN MILES FROM WHERE IT’S RAINING. THEY’RE STAYING ON TOP OF THE RADAR, ALERTING VISITORS AND LOCALS TO FIND SHELTER IF THEY HEAR THUNDER. THE OTHER DAY, WE HAD SOME PRETTY BAD WEATHER, BUT LIFEGUARDS WERE DOING A REALLY GOOD JOB. THERE, KEEPING US SAFE. I WAS I WENT OUT THERE AND HE FLAGGED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN. NOW, IF YOU ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT, THE ADVICE IS TO REMAIN CALM. DO NOT FIGHT THE CURRENT. AND THEY SAY SWIM PARALLEL TO THE SHORE OR YOU CAN YELL FOR HELP OR WAVE YOUR ARMS. COVE
A red flag warning was in effect, warning Volusia County beachgoers of strong rip currents over the Independence Day holiday weekend.Volusia County Beach Safety said 65 lifeguard towers are staffed to keep a close eye on the big holiday crowds. Swimmers are being advised to stay close to them, especially with the rip current threat.”I will say when I first came here, it was a lot calmer, but the current is pretty bad. I will say when you go past the sandbar it definitely sucks you in,” said beachgoer Keith Willis.”I typically don’t get in the water. I tan,” said Aidan Boote, another beachgoer.Tropical Storm Chantal near the Carolina coast is one reason for the red flag warnings, but not the only one. Beach safety said lightning can strike as far away as 10 miles from where it may be raining during the Florida storm season. Safety officials keep a close eye on the radar to alert visitors and locals of possible dangers on the beach.Willis said, “The other day we had some really bad weather. The lifeguards do a really good job. They’re keeping us safe.”
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —A red flag warning was in effect, warning Volusia County beachgoers of strong rip currents over the Independence Day holiday weekend.
Volusia County Beach Safety said 65 lifeguard towers are staffed to keep a close eye on the big holiday crowds. Swimmers are being advised to stay close to them, especially with the rip current threat.
“I will say when I first came here, it was a lot calmer, but the current is pretty bad. I will say when you go past the sandbar it definitely sucks you in,” said beachgoer Keith Willis.
“I typically don’t get in the water. I tan,” said Aidan Boote, another beachgoer.
Tropical Storm Chantal near the Carolina coast is one reason for the red flag warnings, but not the only one. Beach safety said lightning can strike as far away as 10 miles from where it may be raining during the Florida storm season. Safety officials keep a close eye on the radar to alert visitors and locals of possible dangers on the beach.
Willis said, “The other day we had some really bad weather. The lifeguards do a really good job. They’re keeping us safe.”
