The National Weather Service in Melbourne has been busy issuing advisories for Orlando and the surrounding areas as the end of October brings more than just spooky vibes; it's brought hazardous surf and boating conditions along with it. According to the National Weather Service forecast discussion this morning, the onshore winds, sometimes breezy, will continue to blow across the region well into the upcoming weekend. Showers will keep playing a game of tag with the coast, sometimes pushing inland, but significant rainfall doesn't seem to be in the cards.
And if you were planning to hit the beach, think again. The mid-level high pressure cozying up along the coast brings more than warm Halloween temperatures. It's stirring up surf with large breaking waves up to 5-7 ft and strong and dangerous rip currents that the Weather Service strongly advises to be avoided. They emphasize that residents and visitors should remain out of the ocean due to these dangerous surf conditions and also warn of possible minor beach erosion, particularly at high tide times. Forecasters expect winds to gust between 20-25 kts at all terminals this afternoon, calming down in the interior to around five kts come nighttime but holding steady along the coast.
Look up, and you'll find that conditions will largely stay VFR (Visual Flight Rules), so pilots can breathe a little easier, even if their land-clubbing counterparts can't set sail just yet. As the Traffic Flow Management Coordinator reports, Orlando's aviary commuters should face no significant issues, with breezy east winds being the only mild concern as they pick up this afternoon.
If you're wondering about the waters, Small Craft Advisories continue to spoil any potential boating plans. The Weather Service advises that seas will run 5-7 ft near shore and 7-8 ft Gulf Stream by early evening, so it's best to keep the watercraft docked for now. After all, with the kind of surf and winds we've got stirring up our seas, it'd take more than a Halloween hex to get a safe passage through those waters. Looking ahead to the weekend and the start of November, the marine forecast doesn't let up much, with onshore winds sticking around, which may ramp up further late in the weekend and early next week (return of Small Craft Advisories) as conditions stay overall unsettled (poor to hazardous) for boating.
