The National Weather Service has issued a high surf advisory for coastal Palm Beach County, including Boca Raton, with breaking waves of 5 to 9 feet expected in the surf zone. The NWS also issued advisories for coastal flooding and rip currents.
The high surf advisory is in effect until 8 p.m. Friday. Forecasters said the surf will create dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and could cause localized beach erosion. The weather service also has a high rip current risk in effect through Friday evening. Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water, forecasters said.
At Boca Inlet, dozens – if not a hundred or more – surfers flocked to the water before sunset to catch waves after the high tide cycle had completed. Park rangers dutifully looked on as a better surf break than usual came to South Florida. Anglers were not as lucky, with the south jetty completely overwashed by waves. The beach continued to hold up, though it began to erode near the outlet of the inlet’s dredge pipe. A few daring boaters powered full-throttle through the breakers, while a couple of jet-skiers posed for photos as they passed the jetty; in one case, a man fell off one of the jet-skis but was quickly plucked out of the water by a friend.
Waves crash at Boynton Inlet, Palm Beach County, FL, Oct. 20, 2026. (Credit: Boca Daily News)
Waves crash at Boynton Inlet, Palm Beach County, FL, Oct. 20, 2026. (Credit: Boca Daily News)…