UPDATE – Cameron County officials have announced that all county beaches will re-open this afternoon at 1 p.m.
HARLINGEN — Beach access points in Cameron County have been closed to vehicles due to extremely high tides and undriveable conditions, county officials said Monday.
The county announced Sunday it was closing Beach Access 5, Beach Access 6 and Boca Chica Beach.
Officials said the access points will remain shut down until conditions improve.
“These county beaches are being temporarily closed to vehicular traffic due to extremely high tides and undriveable conditions,” the news release said. “We ask that all individuals be cautious when visiting our beaches.”
Unusually high tides of just over 1.5 feet have been washing over much of the beaches where motorists drive, with high tide Monday at mid-morning.
Wave heights in the Gulf of Mexico near Padre Island on Monday were 2 to 4 feet, with east winds coming ashore at 10 to 15 mph.
Forecasters say the high tides will continue at about 1.5 feet on Tuesday and then diminish to just under 1.5 feet on Wednesday before moderating further later in the week.
The National Weather Service at Brownsville on Monday issued a rip tide alert, saying there was a high risk of rip currents along gulf beaches today.
County Parks Director Joe E. Vega confirmed Monday the beach access points are still closed.
