'Angry' seas force Lake Worth Pier closure through the weekend
But the pier opened again Monday morning Oct. 6, 2025
UPDATE: The per was re-opened at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 6, 2025.
The Lake Worth Pier will be closed all weekend because of dangerous ocean swells related to a low-pressure system between the Bahamas and Florida.
“The ocean is still very churned up and angry. Until those conditions subside, we estimate it’s going to be closed until Monday morning when we can do a thorough assessment of it,’’ Stuart Sword, Lake Worth Beach’s assistant director for leisure services, said Friday.
The pier was closed for a day earlier this week because of swells churned by hurricanes Humberto and Imelda in the Atlantic Ocean. It reopened Thursday, but by Thursday evening the heavy winds came back, prompting the city to close the pier through the weekend.
“There were 30 mph gusts that really churned the seas up with 6- to 8-ft. waves. Some of those waves are actually breaking on the far end of the pier,’’ Sword said.
“The danger is unpredictable waves,’’ he said. “They can be six feet then all of a sudden an 8-foot swell breaks on the far end and perhaps someone could get knocked off that pier.’’
Closing the pier “is just a precautionary measure to prevent any mishaps,’’ he said.
“It’s a unique weather pattern where you have two hurricanes converging in the Atlantic. Initially in the week it was super calm. There was a lot of surfers out. Now with kind of the back spin, the back churn of the flow, a lot of the currents are pushing from north to south, which is kind of unusual for the Gulfstream. It’s creating a big churn out there with 8-foot swells at times.’’
Crews have removed planks from the middle of the pier to allow the waves to splash up without damaging the pier. Red flags are posted on the beach, advising visitors not to swim.
But the casino shops, including the Benny’s on the Beach restaurant on the pier, are open for business. The beach is open to sunbathers.
“People are encouraged to come down, but the pier is at a reduced state this weekend until it is safe to assess,’’ Sword said.
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