Clearwater Beach Off Limits to Swimmers As Heavy Winds Blow In

CLEARWATER, FL — Folks hoping to catch a few waves courtesy of Hurricane Matthew’s effects on the Tampa Bay area will need to find a place other than Clearwater Beach. The city has announced the beach is off limits to swimmers as winds in the area are blowing steady between 35 to 40 mph.

Clearwater lifeguards have put up double red flags, a Friday morning email from the city said. Waves are reportedly between 3 to 5 feet.

“There are a handful of storm-related issues such as a downed tree and downed power lines elsewhere in the city,” the email added. “About a dozen people were at the Ross Norton Recreation Center which was opened as a shelter.”

Evacuees, the city said, are all from the east coast.

Matthew had maximum sustained winds of 120 mph Friday morning. The Category 3 storm was skirting the Sunshine State, running more or less parallel to the coast line, according to the National Hurricane Center. As of 9 a.m., the hurricane center said Matthew was located about 45 miles southeast of Daytona Beach. Matthew was last reported to be moving north-northwest at 13 mph.

Photo and video courtesy of the city of Clearwater