Louisiana Going to the Beach for Labor Day? Warnings are Posted

If you've survived a Louisiana summertime for more than at least once you know Labor Day is not "the end of summer". It might mark the end of the traditional summer vacation season but there will still be plenty of warm days to enjoy the sun and sand well into September and even October. Although, forecasters are predicting a bit of a cool snap in just a few weeks. 

But since a lot of us do attempt to make one last trip to where the map turns blue before we get caught up in the frenzy that is football weekends, festivals, and preparing for the holidays we wanted you to know that your Labor Day beach adventure might have to be curtailed just a bit.

If you're planning on hitting the beaches of Lower Alabama or the Florida Panhandle rip currents will be an issue, but as you can see in the graphic below, conditions will be improving the deeper into the holiday weekend we go.

Much of the rip current danger has been spawned by waves churned up by Hurricane Idalia as it passed just to the east of the Redneck Riviera earlier in the week. Just keep an eye on the beach warning flags for specific dangers in your immediate area.

There have been concerns expressed that dangerous marine life might be a bit more prevalent along the beaches following the hurricane but so far we have not gotten any reports of increased shark sightings or exposure to jellyfish.

14 of Louisiana's 23 Monitored Beaches Have Advisories Posted for Labor Day

It's not a real surprise that so many Louisiana beaches have advisories posted. This is the time of year when water temperatures are very warm. The warm water supports the growth of bacteria in the water. The bacteria can pose a threat to bathers, swimmers, and even sportsmen who are exposed to the water.

There are currently beach advisories posted for Constance Beach, Elmer's Island, three of the four monitored beaches at Grand Isle State Park plus two other advisories for other beaches on the island.

There are three advisories posted for the six Holly Beach monitored locations and an advisory has been posted for Gulf Breeze as well. Lake Charles South Beach remains closed and there is an advisory posted for Lake Charles North Beach. Also, Long Beach and Rutherford Beach also have advisories.

For the Most Part, Texas Beaches are Advisory Free

There are some exceptions most notably on Galveston Island at the beaches that are "in town". The beach locations further down Galveston Island and along the Upper Texas Coast are advisory-free as we head into the long holiday weekend.