Environment & Weather

Tropical Disturbance Offshore: Heavy Surf, Big Waves, Flooding in Boca

by
Daniel Nee
October 3, 2025

A tropical disturbance off South Florida is unlikely to became an organized or named tropical system, but forecasters warned of heavy seas, large breaking waves in the surf zone and the potential for coastal flooding over the next several days. On Thursday, wave heights ran about 5-7 feet in Boca Raton, with Mother Nature producing a show for onlookers at Boca Inlet, and surfers enjoying the chance to catch some early autumn waves.

Heavy surf being produced by a tropical disturbance off South Florida, Oct. 2, 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Heavy surf being produced by a tropical disturbance off South Florida, Oct. 2, 2025. (NWS)

The National Weather Service office in Miami was forecasting waves heights would continue to build over the next two days, reaching 7-10 feet Friday into Saturday. Large breaking waves of 5-9 feet in the surf zone were predicted, as well as dangerous rip currents that could sweep even the most experienced swimmers out to sea.

Minor coastal flooding is possible during high tide cycles through the weekend, the NWS said, and the region is likely to suffer additional beach erosion. In Boca Raton, a “cliff” like escarpment had formed near the south jetty of Boca Inlet, forcing surfers to take a jump down to access the ocean. In many cases, daredevils were being towed by jet-skis out the inlet and into the breaking waves in search of a ride.

Heavy surf being produced by a tropical disturbance off South Florida, Oct. 2, 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The heavy surf and high tides are being caused by a combination of factors, from the moon phase to the remnants of several tropical systems that are making their way out to sea. But the bulk of the current marine conditions are being caused by an area of disturbed weather just off the coast of South Florida. According to the National Hurricane Center, there is a minimal – just 10 percent – chance of the system forming a tropical depression or named storm, but it has just enough power to stir up the ocean.

“An area of low pressure may form along a remnant frontal boundary near the northwestern Bahamas and southern Florida during the next day or two,” the NHC said in a statement, adding that any additional development would be “slow to occur” and is unlikely.

Heavy surf being produced by a tropical disturbance off South Florida, Oct. 2, 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Meanwhile, forecasters were predicting showers and thunderstorms as bands of rain from the disturbance move in and out of the region. Northeast winds 15 to 17 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 25 m.p.h. were expected both Friday and Saturday, which will also push water into the back bays and ICW, which could lead to flooding in low-lying areas at the time of high tide. Rainy and windy conditions were expected to linger into Sunday.