We're starting to get some surf from a hurricane that as of wednessday was still over the Bahamas. All of these pictures are from Jacksonville Beach, Florida. I know Frances must be kicken some ass further south! Sorry these are such sucky quality - this whole thing was pretty hastily put together!
Hurricane Frances
Wednessday, September 1st
High Tide: 10:30 am Low Tide: 4:45 pm
Nice well formed sets of about 3 to 5 feet, a light westerly wind keeping
them smooth and proud. Looks like the forward wave is trickling into Jax
Beach. Still west of the Abacos'.
Thursday, September 2nd
High Tide: 11:17 am Low Tide: 5:34 pm
Surf is picking up, maybe 5-6 foot swells on the outside break. We're getting a high pressure system that's supposed to push Frances onshore a little early.
Friday, September 3rd
High Tide: 12:01 am Low Tide: 6:24 pm
A pretty steady northeast wind has formed, I guess competing with our hurricane
surf. Waves are still 5-6 feet, but it's starting to wash out.
Late morning we got some nice thunderstorms, calming things down and providing
some realy nice inside action! Forecast tomorrow is 10 - 15 Feet - we'll see!
Saturday, September 4th
High Tide: 12:45 am Low Tide: 7:16 pm
Frances is on her way, and were under a tropical storm warning. Surf is still pretty good though it's getting a little rough. Some of the kids are sneaking onto the unfinished pier and diving behind the offshore break so they don't have to paddle out.
Sunday, September 5th
High Tide: 1:31 am Low Tide:8:11 pm
We started feeling the outer northeastern bands around 2:00 am and it hasn't stopped all day. Sustained winds at 50 mph and gusts up to 70 (not bad for a tropical storm) and we are getting the horizontal rain phenomenon. A lot of people at the beach, but I saw only one guy trying to paddle out, his mother screaming frantically after him. I tried to reassure her that he wouldn't be swept out to sea, as it was all coming from due east straight at us.
Monday, September 6th - Labor
Day
High Tide: 1:31 am Low Tide:8:11 pm
Winds are still pretty high at 30 mph with some gusts, but most of the heavier tornados and stuff is pummeling inland west of the St. Johns River. Things are coming at us from the southeast now, which is making for a wicked current that will have you in Atlantic Beach from the pier in about 15-20 minutes. Not a lot of people out surfing, but still a lot of storm tourists out.
Tuesday, September 7th
High Tide: 1:31 am Low Tide:8:11 pm
Still pretty big at high tide, but calming down considerably in the late afternoon. It's starting to look like fun out there!
Wednessday, September 8th
High Tide: 1:31 am Low Tide:8:11 pm
Things pretty much back to normal, what with our small waves and our construction mens - working ever so hard to get our pier open by next year!
