Beaches Bruised in Boca, But Swimmers Return Following Helene: A Look at ‘The Day After’

Beaches in South Florida reopened Friday, as residents of the Gulf Coast and Big Bend regions were facing a monumental task of assessing the damage and beginning the cleanup following Hurricane Helene.

Beaches in Boca Raton, FL the day following a brush by Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Beaches in Boca Raton, FL the day following a brush by Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Seas were still running high offshore but, while still dangerous, rip currents and breakers in the surf zone began to calm a bit on Friday in Palm Beach and Broward counties. Still, the National Weather Service extended a rip current advisory through Saturday at 8 p.m.

“Life threatening rip currents are likely,” the statement from the NWS office in Miami said. “The surf zone is dangerous for all levels of swimmers. Stay out of the water. Remember to heed the advice of the local beach patrol and flag warning systems.”

Beaches in Boca Raton, FL the day following a brush by Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Beaches in Boca Raton, FL the day following a brush by Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Beaches in Boca Raton, FL the day following a brush by Hurricane Helene, Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Saturday, forecasters said, will bring a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10 a.m. It will otherwise be mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Heat index values will climb as high as 106. A south wind will move at a typical 10 to 14 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 18 m.p.h.

The ocean water temperature remained in the mid-80s, the NWS forecast said. Wave heights in the surf will be between 1-2 feet, while the daytime high tide on Saturday will come at about 5:30 p.m.