Snowbirds appreciative of the Floridian Winter

By Jennifer Ortega

There were no swimmers at Boca Raton Inlet. It was just one of the many Florida beaches that are nearly deserted due to the cooler temperatures we’ve been experiencing in South Florida. While many locals are annoyed by the constant up and down on the thermostat, tourists from out of state welcome it happily.

At the Boca Raton Inlet two visitors from West Virginia were thrilled with the weather, citing the thirty-degree weather in their

Jennifer Ortega

home state as adequate reasoning.

“All of our friends are jealous because we’re at the beach and their knee deep in snow,” they said. “Our kids had to stay home today because schools were closed!”

The lifeguard admitted the weather was scaring off the crowds.

“This is a super popular place to go snorkeling at the reef,” he said. “But the crowds have definitely gotten lighter.”

I stopped by Island Water Sports to see how the surfers were holding up. An employee there explained how the weather affected the surf. He used language that probably only surfers understand. There was something about a “north swell” and “hard northwest winds” which combined to make good surfing conditions. Although surfers acknowledge its cold, the weather isn’t enough to stop them from diving in with their wet suits and riding good waves.

Just up the road, at South Beach Pavilion, more people were scattered on the beach, some of which were fully dressed.

“If I didn’t have to work today I’d be laying on the beach, not fully clothed but maybe wearing a jacket!” remarked a local college student.

I guess it’s safe to say that the locals that do go to the beach just don’t dress for it.

Tim Fry—Captain of Ocean Rescue of Boca Raton—mentioned there were a lot more northerners enjoying the beach during the weekdays. He told me that the last couple of days the waves have been flat and crowds reflected that. He is looking forward too March.

“This is always our down time before spring break hits,” he said.

A deserted beach...

Though the beaches are nearly empty, surfers still rule the chilly waves. It seems like northerners are enjoying the temperatures, while locals continue to take our “Winter” for granted, skipping the beach all together or preferring to sit warmly covered on the cold sand.