JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County is telling people to stay away from Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach and out of the water as Hurricane Dorian closes in on the First Coast.
No evacuations at the beaches have been announced.
Jacksonville Beach Mayor Charlie Latham said the city expects tidal surges and significant riptides.
"It's really critical that the beach is gonna be closed and be safe," he said, "There's gonna be high seas out there and it's gonna be tempting for the surfers to go out there, but we will enforce the closed beach."
The city plans to use sandbags to block beach entrances and prevent surges.
Latham said people should be careful not to lose their vigilance because Dorian has been moving so slowing and has shifted slightly east. He said, like Hurricane Matthew, it could still change at the last minute.
"Pay attention to what the government tells you," Latham said. If we tell you to evacuate, please evacuate. When we close the beaches, I'm begging you please, there won't be lifeguards out here to help you and if you come out just to walk in the water you could get pulled off your feet and dragged into the ocean and that's just a horrible thought."
Latham is also warning people to stay our of the Intracoastal waterway.