With the possibility of flooding on Cameron County beaches, County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. announced Thursday that Boca Chica Beach and access areas No. 3, 4, 5 and 6 at Andy Bowie Park on South Padre Island will be temporarily closed due to Hurricane Ian.
“These county beaches will be temporarily closed until further notice to all incoming vehicular and pedestrian traffic to protect the safety and well-being of the general public from the weather conditions and high tides of Hurricane Ian, which made landfall north of Tampa, Florida,” Trevino said in a press release.
“Waves, tides, and winds call for undrivable land conditions, and we ask that all individuals be cautious when visiting our beaches and heed the advice of the Flag Advisory System signage at all times.”
Trevino’s order takes affect at 2 p.m.
County beach areas on South Padre Island, such as Isla Blanca Park and Andy Bowie County Park, will remain open until further notice.
A coastal flood warning is in effect until 1 a.m. Friday for the island areas of Cameron, Willacy, and Kenedy counties, the National Weather Service in Brownsville/Rio Grande Valley is reporting.
The NWS states the worst of the flooding is expected in and around high tide at about 8:57 p.m. Thursday.
Swell from Ian has arrived along the Lower Texas Coast and is already pushing water into the dunes along narrower beaches during low tide.
The NWS reports potential impacts include gulf water crossing public beach access points for beach access no. 4 northward, water may run up to Highway 100 and severe beach erosion is possible with water calving dunes.
The rip currents could quickly take swimmers unanchored in the sand out to sea into deeper waters and there could be significant wave heights of 4 to 7 feet. Beachgoers are strongly advised to remain out of the surf and off the beach.
People planning to drive vehicles for fishing or other excursions from SPI public access points to the Port Mansfield jetties should postpone and plan for a better day as driving will be impossible, even with a four wheel drive vehicle, the NWS reports.
