Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2015

Rip Current Statement 3, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

May 23, 20154 counties in Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this rip current statement at May 23, 2015, 11:03 AM CDT for 4 counties in Texas. It was in force for 58 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 23, 2015, 11:03 AM CDT (16:03 UTC)
Expired
May 25, 2015, 9:00 PM CDT
In force
58 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 16:04 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, 4.1 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 2015-05-23Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1160 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 2015-05-23The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -46 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 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
1160 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-21 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
677 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
5 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-46 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
9 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.

989 
WHUS44 KHGX 231603
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1103 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

.BUILDING SURF AND ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG AREA BEACHES WILL LEAD TO 
STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. STAY AWAY FROM JETTIES...
PIERS AND ROCK GROINS WHERE THEY WILL BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE. IF YOU DO NOT 
KNOW HOW TO SWIM PLEASE DO NOT GO IN THE WATER. THOSE THAT DO SHOULD
ALWAYS SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD.

TXZ214-236>238-251615-
/O.NEW.KHGX.RP.S.0003.150523T1603Z-150526T0200Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
1103 AM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN HOUSTON/GALVESTON HAS ISSUED A
HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK...WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING. 

* TIMING...THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...WILL POSE A HAZARD TO EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS... 
  ESPECIALLY NEAR ROCK GROINS...JETTIES AND PIERS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP
CURRENTS ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.
               
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 GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS...BEACH PATROL...
FLAGS AND SIGNS. SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD.
               
IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. YELL FOR HELP. 
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR
HELP. IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO
SHORE AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
686 
WHUS44 KHGX 240132
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
832 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

.BUILDING SURF AND ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG AREA BEACHES WILL 
LEAD TO STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. STAY
AWAY FROM JETTIES...PIERS AND ROCK GROINS WHERE THE RIP CURRENTS 
WILL BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM...PLEASE 
DO NOT GO IN THE WATER. THOSE THAT DO SHOULD ALWAYS SWIM NEAR A 
LIFEGUARD.

TXZ214-236>238-260145-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-150526T0200Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
832 PM CDT SAT MAY 23 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

* TIMING...THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...WILL POSE A HAZARD TO EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS... 
  ESPECIALLY NEAR ROCK GROINS...JETTIES AND PIERS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP CURRENTS 
ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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 GROINS...JETTIES 
AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS...BEACH PATROL...FLAGS AND 
SIGNS. SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. YELL FOR HELP. 
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. 
IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE 
AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM 
DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

&&

$$
197 
WHUS44 KHGX 240851
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
351 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING...

.BUILDING SURF AND ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG AREA BEACHES WILL
LEAD TO STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. STAY
AWAY FROM JETTIES...PIERS AND ROCK GROINS WHERE THE RIP CURRENTS
WILL BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM...PLEASE
DO NOT GO IN THE WATER. THOSE THAT DO SHOULD ALWAYS SWIM NEAR A
LIFEGUARD.

TXZ214-236>238-242100-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-150526T0200Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
351 AM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING...

* TIMING...THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...WILL POSE A HAZARD TO EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS... 
  ESPECIALLY NEAR ROCK GROINS...JETTIES AND PIERS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP
CURRENTS ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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 GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS...BEACH PATROL...
FLAGS AND SIGNS. SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. YELL FOR
HELP. DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR
HELP. IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO
SHORE AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

&&

$$
272 
WHUS44 KHGX 250332
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
1032 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

.BUILDING SURF AND ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG AREA BEACHES WILL 
LEAD TO STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH MONDAY EVENING. STAY AWAY FROM 
JETTIES...PIERS AND ROCK GROINS WHERE THE RIP CURRENTS WILL BE MORE 
SUSCEPTIBLE. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM...PLEASE DO NOT GO IN 
THE WATER. THOSE THAT DO SHOULD ALWAYS SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD.

TXZ214-236>238-260200-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-150526T0200Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
1032 PM CDT SUN MAY 24 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY EVENING...

* TIMING...THROUGH MONDAY EVENING.

* IMPACTS...WILL POSE A HAZARD TO EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS... 
  ESPECIALLY NEAR ROCK GROINS...JETTIES AND PIERS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP
CURRENTS ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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 GROINS...JETTIES 
AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS...BEACH PATROL...FLAGS 
AND SIGNS. SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. YELL FOR HELP. 
DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR HELP. 
IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO SHORE 
AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM 
DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

&&

$$
522 
WHUS44 KHGX 250819
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
319 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING...

.BUILDING SURF AND ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG AREA BEACHES WILL
LEAD TO STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH THIS EVENING. STAY AWAY
FROM JETTIES...PIERS AND ROCK GROINS WHERE THE RIP CURRENTS WILL
BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM...PLEASE DO
NOT GO IN THE WATER. THOSE THAT DO SHOULD ALWAYS SWIM NEAR A
LIFEGUARD.

TXZ214-236>238-251630-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-150526T0200Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
319 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* TIMING...THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...WILL POSE A HAZARD TO EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS... 
  ESPECIALLY NEAR ROCK GROINS...JETTIES AND PIERS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP
CURRENTS ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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 GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS...BEACH PATROL...
FLAGS AND SIGNS. SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. YELL FOR
HELP. DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR
HELP. IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO
SHORE AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

&&

$$
032 
WHUS44 KHGX 250827 AAA
CFWHGX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
327 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY
EVENING...

.BUILDING SURF AND ELEVATED WATER LEVELS ALONG AREA BEACHES WILL
LEAD TO STRONG RIP CURRENTS THROUGH THIS EVENING. STAY AWAY FROM
JETTIES...PIERS AND ROCK GROINS WHERE THE RIP CURRENTS WILL BE
MORE SUSCEPTIBLE. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TO SWIM...PLEASE DO NOT
GO IN THE WATER. THOSE THAT DO SHOULD ALWAYS SWIM NEAR A
LIFEGUARD.

TXZ214-236>238-260200-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0003.000000T0000Z-150526T0200Z/
BRAZORIA-CHAMBERS-GALVESTON-MATAGORDA-
327 AM CDT MON MAY 25 2015

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING...

* TIMING...THROUGH THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...WILL POSE A HAZARD TO EVEN EXPERIENCED SWIMMERS... 
  ESPECIALLY NEAR ROCK GROINS...JETTIES AND PIERS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. LIFE THREATENING RIP
CURRENTS ARE LIKELY IN THE SURF ZONE.

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 GROINS...
JETTIES AND PIERS. HEED THE ADVICE OF LIFEGUARDS...BEACH PATROL...
FLAGS AND SIGNS. SWIM NEAR A LIFEGUARD.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...DO NOT PANIC. YELL FOR
HELP. DO NOT EXHAUST YOURSELF AND STAY AFLOAT WHILE WAITING FOR
HELP. IF YOU HAVE TO SWIM OUT OF A RIP CURRENT...SWIM PARALLEL TO
SHORE AND BACK TOWARD THE BEACH WHEN POSSIBLE. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO
SWIM DIRECTLY AGAINST A RIP CURRENT AS YOU WILL TIRE QUICKLY.

&&

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
May 23, 4:22 AM CDTSmall Craft AdvisoryHGX3 days
May 23, 4:47 AM CDTFlash Flood WatchHGXAustin, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Chambers, Colorado and 17 more32 hr
May 23, 1:52 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXHarris38 min

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Texas, 2015Every rip current statement in 2015

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.