- September 29, 2024
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As Hurricane Lee moves north offshore of Florida’s east coast, the storm’s effects on waves and currents will be a real concern throughout the week, Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord said.
“We definitely have some concern about the increasing risk of rip currents,” Lord said.
Swells and rough seas increase the risk of rip currents, Lord said, and the rough seas and swells could create an “extremely high risk.” The surf could reach 5 or 7 feet from Wednesday, Sept. 13, through at least Saturday, Sept. 16, according to a press release from Flagler County.
As of 5 a.m. on Sept. 12, Hurricane Lee was moving north at 7 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Lee has decreased from a Category 5 storm to a Category 3, with a sustained wind speed of 125 mph. A Category 5 hurricane has sustained wind speeds greater than 155 mph.
Lee is predicted to make landfall on Sunday, Sept. 17, near Maine and Canada, according to the NHC.
Flagler County’s dunes could also see some damage from the swells and tides, Lord said.
“There’s no way to truly predict that,” he said. “We don’t have anything that tells us it’ll break through the dunes. The dunes will just do what they’re supposed to do, which is sacrifice themselves to protect what’s on the other side.”
Coastal Engineering Administrator Ansley Wren-Key said the tides for Lee are lower than they were for Hurricane Idalia, which hit during a supermoon, with elevated tides.
As the storm gets closer, the waves will likely worsen and potentially cause more damage to the dunes.
“What we’re really concerned about is the swells,” she said. “Basically, waves are going to create a little bit of an elevated water level, and then the wave run-up is what’s going to run up the beach and erode the dunes.”
Not only do higher swells increase the risk of rip currents, but they also increase water elevation on the beach by a couple of feet, she said.
Lord reminded residents that this is the peak of hurricane season, and they should stay prepared.
“People should not let their guard down, and [should] be prepared and make sure that disaster kits are ready at all times,” he said.
