Boca Raton closed some of its public beaches Tuesday. Despite a sunny afternoon, officials were concerned with heavy surf and the high chance of rip currents as Hurricane Erin loomed hundreds of miles offshore. Though the storm was forecast to turn out to sea, local beaches were expected to experience erosion and surf conditions were forecast to remain dangerous into the weekend.
In Boca Raton, a few bathers hopped in for a swim despite a “Beach Closed” sign at the Spanish River Boulevard beach. Occasionally, police patrolled the oceanfront on ATVs, as breaking waves up to about 5-feet rolled in. A few minutes up A1A in Delray Beach, surf conditions were similar, but erosion was more of a factor. At high tide, waves were nearly reaching the dune line, while about half the beach berm was under water the remainder of the day.
Waves and beach erosion in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Fla. Aug, 19, 2025, as Hurricane Erin hovers offshore. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
Waves and beach erosion in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Fla. Aug, 19, 2025, as Hurricane Erin hovers offshore. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
In both towns – but more so in Delray Beach – an escarpment formed. Escarpments are the small “cliffs” that form when waves carve out small trenches near the surf zone.
The National Weather Service posted both a heavy surf advisory and a high rip current advisory, both of which will remain in effect into the weekend.
“For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 2 to 8 feet expected in the surf zone,” the NWS said in a statement. “Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water.”
Waves and beach erosion in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Fla. Aug, 19, 2025, as Hurricane Erin hovers offshore. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
Waves and beach erosion in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Fla. Aug, 19, 2025, as Hurricane Erin hovers offshore. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
Waves and beach erosion in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Fla. Aug, 19, 2025, as Hurricane Erin hovers offshore. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
Waves and beach erosion in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Fla. Aug, 19, 2025, as Hurricane Erin hovers offshore. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
For the rip current advisory, “Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to dangerous surf conditions,” the statement said. “Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don`t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.”
The heavy surf advisory is in effect until 12 noon Saturday and the rip current advisory is in effect until Sunday.
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