NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – Families hoping for a sunny Labor Day at New Smyrna Beach were met with swift changes in the weather Monday, as early clear skies gave way to strong winds and rainfall. Still, many visitors found ways to keep their spirits up and enjoy the holiday.
By midmorning, beachgoers said conditions were ideal, with calm waves and plenty of sunshine. But as midday approached, gray clouds rolled in, and the surf grew rough. “Once you look out to the water, all gray clouds, you know, it is moving this way because you could just see it. So, we just lived through it. How fun,” one beachgoer said.
[WATCH: Sept. 1 evening weather forecast]
Some families stuck out the rain beneath tents. “We’ve been here for probably three hours now. It’s rained for two straight hours. Just holding down our tent. I mean, of course, we want to see clear skies and no wind, but either way, we’re making the best of it,” another visitor said.
A group of teens from Winter Park had planned a beach celebration but ended up weathering a storm instead. “It started raining, thundering, the waves started crashing down. The waves went up to the cars,” one teen said.
New Smyrna Beach is a popular destination for out-of-state visitors as well. A family from Louisiana arrived, hoping to leave poor weather behind, only to encounter similar conditions in Florida.
“At least we get to touch the water. At least we can’t go inside of it,” one family member said. “But that’s okay. We’re still out here, though. That’s the good thing about it.”
Surfers hoping to catch waves also found the surf too choppy to put their boards in the water, according to those at the scene. Despite the weather, many said they were determined to make the most of their holiday at the beach.