DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Bike Week has come to an end in Daytona Beach and spring break is picking up. The crowds hit the beach on Sunday and were welcomed by cool weather and strong rip currents in the water.
“The smell in the air, the waves, the sounds – I just love it all,” said Nate Enns, visiting from Ontario.
For many, it was their first day on the beach.
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“This is our first time to Daytona Beach. We actually just got here, but it looks beautiful. The weather is a little cooler than we expected with the storm last night,” said Treasure from Phoenix.
Lifeguards were waving the red flag and warning beachgoers of the rip currents. Winter storms made big cuts to the offshore sandbars which now makes the rip currents even stronger.
“We expect to be making a lot of rescues over the spring and summer,” said Deputy Chief Tammy Malphurs. “We just haven’t had a lot of people in the water yet because it’s been cooler, but the water is warming up so we’re starting to see more people in the water.”
Malphurs said with these conditions expected to stick around throughout the spring and summer, it is more important than ever to pay attention to the warnings and swim in front of lifeguards.
She said they’re working closely with the sheriff’s office and the dozens of state troopers the governor is sending here this year to keep the beaches calm and safe.
“We move our tower guards around depending on those crowds. We do let the spring breakers know alcohol is strictly prohibited on the beach in any type of container. You cannot have alcohol on the sand. It just doesn’t mix well with our driving beach and going in the water,” she said.
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