Florida is a well-liked travel destination because of its immaculate beaches and blue oceans. Even while many beaches have beautiful scenery, unwary tourists should be aware that some beaches may also be dangerous.
This article will examine one such beach, outlining the reasons it’s regarded as one of the most hazardous in the state and offering crucial safety advice for anyone arranging a trip there.
Fort Lauderdale Beach: Florida’s Most Dangerous Beach
Every year, a large number of people go to Fort Lauderdale for Spring Break in order to party on the beaches and take advantage of the sun, waves, and white sand. Apart from the potential risk of alcohol poisoning, this location doesn’t appear like it would be that dangerous to visit.
However, because of its history of hurricanes, fatalities in the surf zone, and shark attacks, a 2023 Travel Lens analysis listed Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, as the 10th most dangerous place in the country.
Though it’s unlikely that they’ll do much to protect you from storms, rip currents, and marine life, it was announced in 2024 that more police officers will be stationed around the beaches to curb excessive Spring Break revelry.
The City of Fort Lauderdale advises against swimming alone, when intoxicated, with friends, or in areas without lifeguards on duty.
It also advises against floating out to sea longer than you are absolutely certain you can swim back to shore. These precautions are meant to keep you safe while enjoying the sunny beach.
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Fort Lauderdale Beach’s water quality and deadly storms
Numerous hurricanes have made landfall in Fort Lauderdale Beach, which is one of the main reasons it is regarded as extremely dangerous. There is an annual hurricane season in this part of Florida from June to November, during which time storms with strong winds and deluges of rain are common.
The city of Fort Lauderdale occasionally has to evacuate the beach following significant storms, restrict roads due to flooding concerns, and delay airport flights.
The City of Fort Lauderdale website has updates regarding hazardous weather near the beach. You can also learn how likely it is that rip currents, another horrifying natural occurrence, will occur there.
Rip currents are strong water currents that have the potential to swiftly carry beachgoers out to sea when strong winds are blowing over the ocean.
These currents can be fatal, even for experienced swimmers. At Fort Lauderdale Beach, these unpredictable currents have claimed the lives of tourists.
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The threatening marine life around Fort Lauderdale Beach
While there aren’t as many resident sharks in Fort Lauderdale Beach as there are in Cape Cod, the “Great White Capital,” there have been a few unprovoked attacks at this well-liked party location.
A 12-year-old child narrowly avoided an attack in 2019 and a 7-year-old may have also been bitten by a shark in 2021 (local reports speculate that the victim may have been a barracuda). In any case, Florida is the world’s most dangerous location to get attacked by a shark, and great white sharks are present there.
Although it was not taken into account in the Travel Lens poll that placed Fort Lauderdale beach as the 10th deadliest in the world,
When swimming there, you should also watch out for men-of-war and jellyfish. Jellyfish stings are quite unpleasant, but they are not likely to be fatal.
Even if you can’t totally avoid jellyfish by adhering to a calendar, like you can in Hawaii, you can watch out for signs from local authorities and flags at lifeguard stations that indicate the risk of jellyfish.
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