Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2011

Rip Current Statement 3, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

September 2, 20114 counties in Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this rip current statement at Sep 2, 2011, 10:26 AM CDT for 4 counties in Texas. It was in force for 28 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 2, 2011, 10:26 AM CDT (15:26 UTC)
Expired
Sep 3, 2011, 2:36 PM CDT
In force
28 hr
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

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

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 30 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 15:26 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

Lake Charles Mun, LA (KLCH), launched 12:00Z, 3.4 hours before the alert went out and 219 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 2011-09-02Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 882 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, Lake Charles Mun, LA at 12:00Z on 2011-09-02The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 120 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
882 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-94 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
645 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
19 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
120 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
126 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.8

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

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

952 
WHUS44 KHGX 021526
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1026 AM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011

...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE GULF BEACHFRONT AND
SHORE OF GALVESTON BAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES THROUGH THE 
WEEKEND...

.SWELLS AND ROUGH SURF ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROPICAL SYSTEM
IN THE GULF WILL RESULT IN MINOR COASTAL FLOODING AND 
A RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

TXZ214-236>238-022330-
/O.NEW.KHGX.CF.S.0001.110902T1526Z-110903T1800Z/
/O.NEW.KHGX.RP.S.0003.110902T1526Z-110905T0000Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
1026 AM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011

...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE GULF BEACHFRONT AND 
SHORE OF GALVESTON BAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS FOR THE BEACHES THROUGH
THE WEEKEND...

* COASTAL FLOODING...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED 
  ALONG THE GULF BEACHFRONT AND SHORE OF GALVESTON BAY. 

* TIMING...THE MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED THROUGH
  SATURDAY MORNING. WATER LEVELS WILL DROP TO NEAR OR BELOW
  NORMAL BEGINNING SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY NIGHT
  AS WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTH. THE RIP CURRENT RISK AT THE
  BEACHES WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

* IMPACTS...TIDE LEVELS WILL RUN ABOUT 1.5 FEET ABOVE 
  NORMAL. MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS OF 2.7 TO 3.7 FEET ABOVE 
  MEAN LOWER LOW WATER CAN BE EXPECTED. RIP CURRENTS WILL
  REMAIN A THREAT THROUGH THE ENTIRE HOLIDAY WEEKEND.

NOTE...THE FOLLOWING HIGH TIDE LEVELS ARE REFERENCED FROM MEAN
LOWER LOW WATER.
 
LOCATION          HIGH TIDES         EXPECTED
                  TIMES              WATER LEVEL
 
MORGANS POINT...
                  FRI  1:55 AM       2.9 FEET       
                  FRI  9:23 AM       2.7 FEET       
 
                  SAT  3:51 AM       2.9 FEET       
 
                  SUN  5:43 AM       1.1 FEET       
 
MANCHESTER...
                  FRI  1:55 AM       3.0 FEET       
                  FRI 11:16 AM       2.6 FEET       
 
                  SAT  3:26 AM       2.9 FEET       
 
                  SUN  5:19 AM       1.1 FEET       
 
ROLLOVER PASS...
                  FRI 12:09 AM       2.7 FEET       
                  FRI  8:33 AM       2.6 FEET       
 
                  SAT  3:05 AM       2.6 FEET       
 
                  SUN  5:38 AM       1.0 FEET       
 
EAGLE POINT...
                  FRI  7:04 AM       2.8 FEET       
 
                  SAT  6:58 AM       2.8 FEET       
 
                  SUN  7:26 AM       1.1 FEET       
 
GALVESTON CHANNEL (PIER 21)...
                  FRI  6:35 AM       2.9 FEET       
                  FRI 10:34 PM       3.0 FEET       
 
                  SAT  6:46 AM       2.8 FEET       
 
                  SUN 12:25 AM       1.2 FEET       
 
GALVESTON PLEASURE PIER...
                  FRI  6:11 AM       3.2 FEET       
                  FRI  9:21 PM       3.7 FEET       
 
                  SAT  6:29 AM       3.1 FEET
                  SAT 10:58 PM       2.4 FEET       
 
 
FREEPORT USCG...
                  FRI  5:20 AM       2.8 FEET       
                  FRI  9:30 PM       3.3 FEET       
 
                  SAT 11:24 PM       2.0 FEET 

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
4 follow-up statements
880 
WHUS44 KHGX 022059
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
359 PM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011

...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE GULF BEACHFRONT AND SHORE OF
GALVESTON BAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES THROUGH THE WEEKEND...

.SWELLS AND ROUGH SURF ASSOCIATED WITH THE TROPICAL SYSTEM IN THE
GULF WILL RESULT IN MINOR COASTAL FLOODING AND A RISK OF RIP
CURRENTS.

TXZ214-236>238-031100-
/O.CON.KHGX.CF.S.0001.000000T0000Z-110903T1800Z/
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-110905T0000Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
359 PM CDT FRI SEP 2 2011

...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING ALONG THE GULF BEACHFRONT AND SHORE OF
GALVESTON BAY THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...

...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS FOR THE BEACHES THROUGH THE WEEKEND...

* COASTAL FLOODING...MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED ALONG 
  THE GULF BEACHFRONT AND SHORE OF GALVESTON BAY. 

* TIMING...THE MINOR COASTAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED THROUGH 
  SATURDAY MORNING. WATER LEVELS WILL DROP TO NEAR OR BELOW 
  NORMAL BEGINNING SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY NIGHT AS 
  WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTH. THE RIP CURRENT RISK AT THE BEACHES 
  WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. 

* IMPACTS...TIDE LEVELS WILL RUN ABOUT 1.5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL. 
  MAXIMUM WATER LEVELS OF 3.0 TO 4.0 FEET ABOVE MEAN LOWER LOW 
  WATER CAN BE EXPECTED. RIP CURRENTS WILL REMAIN A THREAT 
  THROUGH THE ENTIRE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. 

NOTE...THE FOLLOWING HIGH TIDE LEVELS ARE REFERENCED FROM MEAN
LOWER LOW WATER.
 
LOCATION          HIGH TIDES         EXPECTED
                  TIMES              WATER LEVEL
 
MORGANS POINT...
                  SAT  3:51 AM       3.0 FEET       
 
                  SUN  5:43 AM       1.1 FEET       
 
MANCHESTER...                  
                  SAT  3:26 AM       3.0 FEET       
 
                  SUN  5:19 AM       1.1 FEET       
 
ROLLOVER PASS...
                  SAT  3:05 AM       2.7 FEET       
 
                  SUN  5:38 AM       1.0 FEET       
 
EAGLE POINT...                  
                  SAT  6:58 AM       2.9 FEET       
 
                  SUN  7:26 AM       1.1 FEET       
 
GALVESTON CHANNEL (PIER 21)...
                  FRI 10:34 PM       3.1 FEET       
 
                  SAT  6:46 AM       2.8 FEET       
 
                  SUN 12:25 AM       1.2 FEET       
 
GALVESTON PLEASURE PIER...
                  FRI  9:21 PM       3.8 FEET       
 
                  SAT  6:29 AM       3.2 FEET
                  SAT 10:58 PM       2.4 FEET       
 
 
FREEPORT USCG...
                  FRI  9:30 PM       3.5 FEET       
 
                  SAT 11:24 PM       2.0 FEET     


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
902 
WHUS44 KHGX 030927
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
427 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011

...RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES THROUGH THE WEEKEND...

.SWELLS AND ROUGH SURF ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM LEE IN THE
NORTH CENTRAL GULF WILL RESULT IN A RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE
UPPER TEXAS COAST.

TXZ214-236>238-031730-
/O.CAN.KHGX.CF.S.0001.000000T0000Z-110903T1800Z/
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-110905T0000Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
427 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

* TIMING...THE RIP CURRENT RISK AT THE BEACHES WILL PERSIST
  THROUGH THE WEEKEND. 

* IMPACTS...RIP CURRENTS WILL REMAIN A THREAT THROUGH THE ENTIRE
  HOLIDAY WEEKEND.


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
921 
WHUS44 KHGX 031648
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1148 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011

...ELEVATED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES CONTINUES THROUGH
THE WEEKEND...

.WAVES AND SWELLS ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICAL STORM LEE...AND STRONG
WINDS WILL RESULT IN AN ELEVATED RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE UPPER
TEXAS COAST.

TXZ214-236>238-040500-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-110905T0000Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
1148 AM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING...

* TIMING...THE RIP CURRENT RISK AT THE BEACHES WILL PERSIST 
  THROUGH THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND. 

* IMPACTS...RIP CURRENTS WILL BE POSSIBLE.

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
140 
WHUS44 KHGX 031936
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
236 PM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK NO LONGER ELEVATED...

.THE CHANGE IN WIND DIRECTION TO OFFSHORE HAS DECREASED THE SURF
AT THE GULF BEACHES DESPITE THE HIGH WIND SPEEDS. BEACH PATROL
HAS INDICATED THAT THE RIP CURRENT THREAT APPEARS TO HAVE
DIMINISHED. STILL THOSE VENTURING INTO THE WATER NEED TO EXERCISE
CAUTION GIVEN THE WINDY CONDITIONS.

TXZ214-236>238-032045-
/O.CAN.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-110905T0000Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
236 PM CDT SAT SEP 3 2011

...RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...


* IMPACTS...RIP CURRENT THREAT NO LONGER ELEVATED. STRONG WINDS
  STILL EXPECTED AT BEACH AREAS THROUGH THE WEEKEND.

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

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 1, 9:25 PM CDTSmall Craft AdvisoryHGX4 days
Sep 2, 6:28 AM CDTFire Weather WatchHGXAustin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Grimes, Houston and 4 more23 hr
Sep 2, 10:26 AM CDTCoastal Flood StatementHGXBrazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Matagorda18 hr
Sep 2, 4:17 PM CDTFire Weather WatchHGXAustin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado and 17 more24 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.