Wednesday, June 30 -- The consensus at city hall is that Port Aransas can breathe a sigh of relief this morning.

Concerns have shifted from preparing for a storm to getting the word out that the beaches are open and Fourth of July visitors are welcome, according to City Manager Robert Bradshaw.

After a meeting of city officials this morning, Bradshaw said the consensus is that “we’re not in the cone of error, so we’re standing down.”

The only step that will be taken is the posting of high water warnings on the beaches, he said.

Mayor Keith McMullin said beach traffic is being restricted because of storm tides in excess of three feet.

McMullin cautioned that high surf and rip tide conditions are present, so the city is advising “extreme caution.”

Lifeguards are not on duty, McMullin noted.

He added that conditions are expected to improve on Friday.

According to the National Weather Service, Hurricane Alex was generating 80 mph winds and moving northwest at 7 mph. A turn more to the west is expected later today.

A tropical storm warning is in effect from Baffin Bay south of Kingsville to Port O’Connor, north of Rockport.

A hurricane warning is in effect in coastal areas from Baffin Bay south to the Rio Grande River, and in Mexico from the border to La Cruz.

The hurricane is expected to make landfall in the hurricane warning area late tonight or early Thursday morning.

Bradshaw said he would meet again with McMullin and Planning and Projects Manager Dave Parsons this afternoon.

“We’ve done all we can do up to now. We’re in a holding pattern,” he added.

The holiday weekend may involve some thunderstorms, but rain probabilities lessen by Sunday and Monday.

The Fourth of July fireworks display will go on as planned. It is scheduled from Sunday at “dark-thirty,” which is after 9 p.m. as the sky darkens. The fireworks are ignited from Roberts Point Park. Spectators may view the display from the park, but will be kept away from the ignition site.

With the threat of the storm, some vacationers may have changed their holiday plans, McMullin said. That may leave unexpected availability at lodging facilities for those making last-minute plans, he added.

Any changes in the storm status will be posted on this Web site.

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