‘Where is all the sand?’: Onshore winds, high tides cause erosion along Jacksonville Beach

Persistent onshore winds and high tides are causing erosion along the shoreline at Jacksonville’s beaches, and beachgoers are noticing.

On Jacksonville Beach between 3rd and 4th avenues, rough waves and uneven surfaces show just how much sand has been washed away.

Amelia Mistretta brought her brother to Jax Beach while he is visiting from South Carolina. During their walk along the shore, they found a noticeably different beach, with far less sand than they expected.

“I’m wanting lush, like full sand. This is like, where is all the sand?” Amelia Mistretta said.

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“It definitely seems like everything is a lot further pushed back,” said Will Mistretta, who is visiting from South Carolina.

Jacksonville Beach is seeing the effects of days of persistent onshore winds and higher-than-normal tides, leaving behind eroded sand, debris, and a narrower shoreline.

“You get the onshore wind one day, it’s not that big of a deal. But when you get it for 7 to 10 days in a row... with the increased surf because of the high tides, or the higher than usual tides, there will be erosion and there has been beach erosion,” First Alert Meteorologist Corey Simma said.

A beach scarp the size of a toddler can be seen on Jax Beach between 3rd and 4th avenues. As children use it as a playground, it serves as a visual of the higher tides and increased surf that have gradually worn away the beach.

Some beachgoers have noticed a difference in the sand.

“It just feels weird, but it’s still comfortable to walk in,” said Carlos, who is visiting from Ohio.

Those conditions may not improve right away.

“If there hasn’t been erosion, there likely will be, and if there is or has been, then it will likely get worse,” Simma said.

But that isn’t stopping visitors like Will Mistretta from enjoying a walk on the beach.

“Windy day like this, it’s so beautiful,” he said.

Lifeguards urge beachgoers to use caution, especially during high tide, when less sand is available and the water can reach much closer to the dunes.

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