HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — South Florida was on weather watch on Friday as an area in the tropics brings heavy winds and high rip currents through the weekend.

On Friday, the waves were relentless along Hollywood Beach, but for many visitors, it was still a perfect afternoon.

Across the Broadwalk, beachgoers soaked up the sunshine even as strong gusts blew through.

“Oh this weather is awesome. Right now it’s perfect — there’s a nice breeze and it’s awesome,” said Terry Rouse, visiting from Pittsburgh.

The winds made it impossible to play volleyball and tough to keep a towel on the sand.

Maryanne Rita, visiting from New York City, said the gusts weren’t enough to ruin her family’s trip.

“It’s warm, it’s gorgeous, it’s beautiful,” she said. “It’s too windy for the beach but you know, we can walk in this weather and we hope the wind dies down a little bit.”

High surf of one to two feet crashed onto the shore, with red flags posted to warn beachgoers to stay out of the ocean.

Officials say rip currents are at their strongest. So families stayed on the sand.

“Eating on the beach, seeing the scenery we’ve seen is awesome — can’t beat it,“ said Joanne Meyer, also visiting from Pittsburgh. ”That’s why I will never go back up north.”

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