Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2011

Rip Current Statement 2, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

July 28, 20115 counties in Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this rip current statement at Jul 28, 2011, 5:57 PM CDT for 5 counties in Texas. It was in force for 37 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Jul 28, 2011, 5:57 PM CDT (22:57 UTC)
Expired
Jul 30, 2011, 6:33 AM CDT
In force
37 hr
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

Counties Brazoria County, TX, Chambers County, TX, Galveston County, TX, Jackson County, TX, Matagorda County, TX

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 52 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:58 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Corpus Christi, TX (KCRP), launched 12:00Z, 11.0 hours before the alert went out and 242 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Corpus Christi, TX at 12:00Z on 2011-07-28Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1188 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Corpus Christi, TX at 12:00Z on 2011-07-28The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -33 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
1188 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-83 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
867 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
6 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-33 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
65 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

174 
WHUS44 KHGX 282257
CFWHGX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
557 PM CDT THU JUL 28 2011

...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY...

.AS TROPICAL STORM DON APPROACHES THE MIDDLE TEXAS COAST ON FRIDAY...THERE
WILL BE AN INCREASING RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE BEACHFRONT. THESE
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

TXZ214-238-290700-
/O.NEW.KHGX.RP.S.0002.110728T2257Z-110730T2100Z/
CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-
557 PM CDT THU JUL 28 2011

...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED TO INCREASE THROUGH THE DAY ON FRIDAY...

AS TROPICAL STORM DON APPROACHES THE MIDDLE TEXAS COAST ON FRIDAY...THERE
WILL BE AN INCREASING RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE BEACHFRONT. WAVES
WILL INCREASE THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS SEAS OFFSHORE BUILD TO 6 TO 10 FEET.
THESE DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

WITH INCREASING WAVE HEIGHTS...WATER LEVELS WILL INCREASE ALONG AREA
BEACHES. AT THIS TIME...THE THREAT FOR COASTAL FLOODING IS MINIMAL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS JETTIES AND
PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS. 

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HOUSTON
5 follow-up statements
779 
WHUS44 KHGX 290925
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
425 AM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

.AS TROPICAL STORM DON APPROACHES THE LOWER TEXAS COAST LATER
TODAY...THERE WILL BE AN INCREASING RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE
UPPER TEXAS COASTAL BEACHFRONT. THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO
PERSIST INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

TXZ237-291800-
/O.EXA.KHGX.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-110730T2100Z/
BRAZORIA-
425 AM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

AS TROPICAL STORM DON APPROACHES THE LOWER TEXAS COAST LATER
TODAY...THERE WILL BE AN INCREASING RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE
UPPER TEXAS COASTAL BEACHFRONT. WAVES WILL INCREASE THROUGHOUT
THE DAY AS SEAS OFFSHORE BUILD TO 6 TO 10 FEET. THESE DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

WITH INCREASING WAVE HEIGHTS...WATER LEVELS WILL INCREASE ALONG
AREA BEACHES. AT THIS TIME...THE THREAT FOR COASTAL FLOODING IS
MINIMAL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY 
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE 
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS JETTIES AND
PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$

TXZ214-238-291800-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-110730T2100Z/
CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-
425 AM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

AS TROPICAL STORM DON APPROACHES THE LOWER TEXAS COAST LATER
TODAY...THERE WILL BE AN INCREASING RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE
UPPER TEXAS COASTAL BEACHFRONT. WAVES WILL INCREASE THROUGHOUT 
THE DAY AS SEAS OFFSHORE BUILD TO 6 TO 10 FEET. THESE DANGEROUS
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

WITH INCREASING WAVE HEIGHTS...WATER LEVELS WILL INCREASE ALONG
AREA BEACHES. AT THIS TIME...THE THREAT FOR COASTAL FLOODING IS
MINIMAL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS JETTIES AND
PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM
359 
WHUS44 KHGX 291453
CFWHGX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
953 AM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH SATURDAY...

.AS TROPICAL STORM DON APPROACHES THE LOWER TEXAS COAST LATER
TODAY...THERE WILL BE AN INCREASING RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG
THE UPPER TEXAS COASTAL BEACHFRONT. THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED
TO PERSIST INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

TXZ214-237-238-292300-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-110730T2100Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-
953 AM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

AS TROPICAL STORM DON APPROACHES THE LOWER TEXAS COAST LATER
TODAY...THERE WILL BE AN INCREASING RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG
THE UPPER TEXAS COASTAL BEACHFRONT. WAVES WILL INCREASE
THROUGHOUT THE DAY AS SEAS OFFSHORE BUILD TO 6 TO 10 FEET. THESE
DANGEROUS CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST INTO THE DAY ON
SATURDAY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS JETTIES AND
PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HOUSTON
332 
WHUS44 KHGX 292045
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
345 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH SATURDAY...

.AS TROPICAL STORM DON MAKES LANDFALL INTO THE LOWER TEXAS COAST 
TONIGHT...THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR THE 
UPPER TEXAS COASTAL BEACHFRONT. THESE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO 
PERSIST INTO THE DAY ON SATURDAY.

TXZ214-237-238-300445-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-110730T2100Z/
CHAMBERS-BRAZORIA-GALVESTON-
345 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY
AFTERNOON...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS JETTIES AND
PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM
605 
WHUS44 KHGX 292352
CFWHGX

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
652 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...ELEVATED RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH SATURDAY...

.THE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR THE UPPER TEXAS COASTAL 
BEACHFRONT INTO SATURDAY. TROPICAL STORM DON IS FORECAST TO MOVE INLAND 
TONIGHT ACROSS SOUTH TEXAS. ELEVATED SURF HEIGHTS ALONG UPPER TEXAS COASTAL BEACHES
GENERATED FROM THE STORM SHOULD GRADUALLY DIMINISH THROUGH THE DAY SATURDAY.  

TXZ235-236-300900-
/O.EXB.KHGX.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-110730T1800Z/
JACKSON-MATAGORDA-
652 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...ELEVATED RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS JETTIES AND
PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$

TXZ214-237-238-300900-
/O.EXT.KHGX.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-110730T1800Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-
652 PM CDT FRI JUL 29 2011

...ELEVATED RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

RIP CURRENTS ARE POWERFUL CHANNELS OF WATER FLOWING QUICKLY AWAY
FROM SHORE...WHICH OCCUR MOST OFTEN AT LOW SPOTS OR BREAKS IN THE
SANDBAR AND IN THE VICINITY OF STRUCTURES SUCH AS JETTIES AND
PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS AND THE BEACH PATROL. PAY
ATTENTION TO FLAGS AND POSTED SIGNS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. REMAIN CALM
AND BEGIN TO SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE. ONCE YOU ARE AWAY FROM THE
FORCE OF THE RIP CURRENT...BEGIN TO SWIM BACK TO THE BEACH. DO
NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT. EVEN A STRONG
SWIMMER CAN BECOME EXHAUSTED QUICKLY.

&&

$$


HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HOUSTON
798 
WHUS44 KHGX 301133
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
633 AM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...

.WITH DIMINISHING WINDS AND SEAS...THE WIDESPREAD RIP CURRENT
RISK HAS DIMINISHED ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST.

TXZ214-235>238-301245-
/O.CAN.KHGX.RP.S.0002.000000T0000Z-110730T1800Z/
CHAMBERS-JACKSON-MATAGORDA-BRAZORIA-GALVESTON-
633 AM CDT SAT JUL 30 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...
WITH DIMINISHING WINDS AND SEAS...THE WIDESPREAD RIP CURRENT RISK 
HAS DIMINISHED ALONG THE UPPER TEXAS COAST.

$$


PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
NEW RIP CURRENT HAZARD...

HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SURVEY/NWS-SURVEY.PHP?CODE=RCVTECCHM

The office that day

Everything else NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Jul 27, 9:47 PM CDTTropical Storm WatchHGXBrazoria, Jackson, Matagorda12 hr
Jul 28, 9:49 AM CDTTropical Storm WarningHGXBrazoria, Jackson, Matagorda33 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Texas, 2011Every rip current statement in 2011

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.