FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – With waves crashing high at Fort Lauderdale Beach, Saturday morning had already proven to be a wet and blustery one.
A Local 10 News crew was at Fort Lauderdale Beach as work crews were seen using shovels and heavy machinery to scoop away sand that’s been blown away from the heavy winds, partially covering sidewalks and roads along the coast.
A flood watch is in effect for metro Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and a coastal flood statement is in effect through Sunday morning for the Florida Keys.
Local 10 News spoke with Andresa Hart, who is visiting from South Carolina, at a time when the weather isn’t at its best.
“It’s dangerous and I’m glad people are not there trying to swim, surf or do something like that,” she said.
Because of the wild winds, organizers pulled the plug on the annual Winterfest Boat Parade in Fort Lauderdale this weekend, an event that was previously billed as “rain or shine.”
Local 10 News spoke with Denese Inniss, owner of the boat South Beach Lady, who said that she and her staff had been preparing for the event for at least six months.
“That’s the stage ready for Boyz II Men that we’re going to miss this year,” she said. “Sad, so sad, but it is what it is.”
The boat parade brings in roughly $50 million to the local economy, so the cancelation is a big blow to local businesses.
Officials also pushed back a popular holiday boat parade in Pompano Beach due to poor weather Friday.
The Greater Pompano Beach Chamber of Commerce Pompano Beach Holiday Boat Parade, scheduled for Friday, has been postponed until Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
On Hollywood Beach, very few people were out Friday night braving the elements on what would’ve otherwise been the start of a very busy weekend.
“Usually, there’s a lot of people but because of this weather, the way it’s been--it’s been horrible,” South Florida resident Reign Murray told Local 10 News Friday.
“The bar was full. Everyone was here. It’s one of the only places in town we can close down with the plastic,” said Robert Bassler, who works at a bar in Fort Lauderdale.
Tourists on Miami Beach salvaged their vacations the best way they could, dodging rain drops instead of soaking up the sun.
“I look like I’m going to Alaska and not to Florida,” said one woman.
According to Florida Power & Light, there were 2,842 reported power outages in Miami-Dade County and 448 reported outages in Broward County as of 11 a.m. Saturday.
To report or check the status of a power outage, go to FPL.com/outage.
For more about your local weather forecast and a live radar, visit this page.