Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2017

Rip Current Statement 1, NWS Brownsville, TX

March 12, 2017Kenedy County, Texas

NWS Brownsville, TX issued this rip current statement at Mar 12, 2017, 5:15 AM CDT for Kenedy County, Texas. It took effect at Mar 12, 2017, 7:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 52 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Mar 12, 2017, 5:15 AM CDT (10:15 UTC)
In effect from
Mar 12, 2017, 7:00 AM CDT
Expired
Mar 14, 2017, 10:48 AM CDT
In force
52 hr
Issued by
NWS Brownsville, TX

County Kenedy County, TX

The radar

The Corpus Christi radar (KCRP), 96 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:18 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 00:00Z, 10.3 hours before the alert went out and 94 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 00:00Z on 2017-03-12Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 430 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 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 00:00Z on 2017-03-12The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 13 square meters per square second.193958Sfc1 km3 km6 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
430 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
797 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
38 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
13 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
102 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.2

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

707 
WHUS44 KBRO 121015
CFWBRO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
515 AM CDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
AND BOCA CHICA TODAY AND TONIGHT...

.THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT THIS MORNING WILL BRING STRONG NORTH
WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH...WITH SEAS IN THE SURF ZONE BUILDING TO 4
TO 6 FEET. A FULL MOON TODAY WILL RESULT IN INCREASED ASTRONOMICAL
TIDES AS WELL...FURTHER CONTRIBUTING TO THE RIP CURRENT RISK.
ALTHOUGH WEATHER CONDITIONS AT THE BEACH TODAY WILL NOT BE
PARTICULARLY FAVORABLE...LARGE CROWDS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN
GATHERING AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND AS SPRING BREAK IS
IN PROGRESS FOR MANY TEXAS STUDENTS.

TXZ251-256-257-130000-
/O.NEW.KBRO.RP.S.0001.170312T1200Z-170313T1200Z/
KENEDY-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
515 AM CDT SUN MAR 12 2017

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

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BROWNSVILLE HAS ISSUED A HIGH RIP
CURRENT RISK, WHICH IS IN EFFECT THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. 

* TIMING...A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EXISTS TODAY INTO THIS
  EVENING. AN ELEVATED RISK CONTINUES FOR MONDAY...THOUGH MORE 
  LIKELY AT MODERATE LEVELS.

* IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS SUPPORT STRONGER OR MORE FREQUENT
  LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS...WHICH WILL CREATE DANGEROUS
  SWIMMING CONDITIONS AT BOCA CHICA BEACH AND THE BEACHES OF SOUTH
  PADRE ISLAND...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE JETTY. SWIMMING IS HIGHLY
  DISCOURAGED...AS IT WILL BE DANGEROUS FOR ALL
  SWIMMERS...REGARDLESS OF ABILITY.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

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.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN
CALM...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. 

&&

$$

53
5 follow-up statements
121 
WHUS44 KBRO 130130
CFWBRO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
830 PM CDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
AND BOCA CHICA THROUGH TONIGHT...

.THE PASSAGE OF A COLD FRONT...COMBINED WITH HIGHER ASTRONOMICAL 
HIGH TIDES...WILL CONTRIBUTE TO A HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK...CREATING 
A DANGER FOR THE LARGE CROWDS GATHERING AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH 
PADRE ISLAND FOR SPRING BREAK. 

TXZ251-256-257-131200-
/O.CON.KBRO.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-170313T1200Z/
KENEDY-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
830 PM CDT SUN MAR 12 2017

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT
MONDAY...

* TIMING...A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EXISTS THROUGH TONIGHT.  
 
* IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS SUPPORT STRONGER OR MORE FREQUENT
  LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS...WHICH WILL CREATE DANGEROUS
  SWIMMING CONDITIONS AT BOCA CHICA BEACH AND THE BEACHES OF SOUTH
  PADRE ISLAND...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE JETTY. SWIMMING IS HIGHLY
  DISCOURAGED...AS IT WILL BE DANGEROUS FOR ALL SWIMMERS...
  REGARDLESS OF ABILITY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

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.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN
CALM...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.

&&

$$
923 
WHUS44 KBRO 131005
CFWBRO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
505 AM CDT MON MAR 13 2017

...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
AND BOCA CHICA STATE PARK THROUGH TONIGHT...

.NEAR-SHORE SWELL HEIGHTS OF 3 TO 5 FEET ORIENTED PERPENDICULARLY
TO THE SHORELINE WILL OCCUR. COMBINED WITH HIGHER THAN NORMAL 
ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDES...THE HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK WILL CONTINUE 
TODAY AND TONIGHT FOR THE LARGE CROWDS GATHERING ON SOUTH PADRE 
ISLAND FOR SPRING BREAK.

TXZ251-256-257-131815-
/O.EXT.KBRO.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-170314T1200Z/
KENEDY-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
505 AM CDT MON MAR 13 2017

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

* TIMING...A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS EXISTS THROUGH TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS SUPPORT STRONGER OR MORE FREQUENT
  LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS...WHICH WILL CREATE DANGEROUS
  SWIMMING CONDITIONS AT BOCA CHICA BEACH AND THE BEACHES OF SOUTH
  PADRE ISLAND...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE JETTY. SWIMMING IS HIGHLY
  DISCOURAGED...AS IT WILL BE DANGEROUS FOR ALL SWIMMERS...REGARDLESS
  OF ABILITY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

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.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN
CALM...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.

&&

$$

53
696 
WHUS44 KBRO 140241
CFWBRO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
941 PM CDT MON MAR 13 2017

...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
AND BOCA CHICA STATE PARK THROUGH TONIGHT...

.GULF SWELL HEIGHTS OF 3 TO 5 FEET COMBINED WITH HIGHER THAN 
NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL HIGH TIDES WILL MAINTAIN A HIGH RIP CURRENT 
RISK TONIGHT FOR THE LARGE CROWDS GATHERING ON SOUTH PADRE ISLAND
FOR SPRING BREAK.

TXZ251-256-257-141200-
/O.CON.KBRO.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-170314T1200Z/
KENEDY-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
941 PM CDT MON MAR 13 2017

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM CDT
TUESDAY...

* TIMING...A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS CONTINUES TONIGHT.

* IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS SUPPORT STRONGER OR MORE FREQUENT 
  LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS...WHICH WILL CREATE DANGEROUS 
  SWIMMING CONDITIONS AT BOCA CHICA BEACH AND THE BEACHES OF 
  SOUTH PADRE ISLAND...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE JETTY. SWIMMING IS 
  HIGHLY DISCOURAGED...AS IT WILL BE DANGEROUS FOR ALL 
  SWIMMERS... REGARDLESS OF ABILITY. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

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.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN
CALM...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.

&&

$$
339 
WHUS44 KBRO 140955
CFWBRO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
455 AM CDT TUE MAR 14 2017

...DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS POSSIBLE AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE 
ISLAND AND BOCA CHICA STATE PARK THROUGH MID-DAY TODAY...

.GULF SWELL HEIGHTS OF 2 TO 4 FEET COMBINED WITH HIGHER THAN 
NORMAL ASTRONOMICAL TIDES WILL PRODUCE A MODERATE RIP CURRENT 
RISK THROUGH AT LEAST THE MORNING HOURS TODAY. LARGER THAN USUAL 
CROWDS ARE EXPECTED AT THE BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND FOR 
SPRING BREAK.

TXZ251-256-257-141800-
/O.EXT.KBRO.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-170314T1800Z/
KENEDY-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
455 AM CDT TUE MAR 14 2017

...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 PM CDT THIS 
AFTERNOON...

* TIMING...A MODERATE RISK OF RIP EXISTS THROUGH MID-DAY TODAY.

* IMPACTS...MARINE CONDITIONS SUPPORT THE POSSIBILITY OF STRONGER
  OR MORE FREQUENT LIFE-THREATENING RIP CURRENTS...WHICH WILL
  CREATE DANGEROUS SWIMMING CONDITIONS AT BOCA CHICA BEACH AND THE
  BEACHES OF SOUTH PADRE ISLAND...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE JETTY. SUNNY
  SKIES TODAY WITH AIR TEMPERATURES IN THE LOWER 70S AND SURF
  TEMPERATURES AROUND 70 ARE LIKELY TO DRAW MORE PEOPLE INTO THE
  WATER THAN DURING THE PAST FEW DAYS. SWIMMING IS  
  DISCOURAGED...AS IT WILL BE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS FOR ALL 
  SWIMMERS. 

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

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.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN
CALM...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.

&&

$$

53
250 
WHUS44 KBRO 141548
CFWBRO

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
1048 AM CDT TUE MAR 14 2017

...SWELL, WAVES AND RIP CURRENT RISK SUBSIDING...

.LIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS OVER THE WESTERN GULF AND OFFSHORE 
NORTHERLY WINDS ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO HAVE
ALLOWED FOR HIGHER SWELLS TO SUBSIDE OR BE DIRECTED AWAY FROM THE
LOWER TEXAS COAST. WITH SWELL HEIGHTS LOWERING WELL BELOW 
CRITICAL LEVELS THE RIP CURRENT RISK HAS BEEN LOWERED. 

TXZ251-256-257-141700-
/O.CAN.KBRO.RP.S.0001.000000T0000Z-170314T1800Z/
KENEDY-COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
1048 AM CDT TUE MAR 14 2017

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BROWNSVILLE HAS CANCELLED THE
HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK. RIP CURRENT RISK IS CURRENTLY LOW.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS.

IF YOU BECOME CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...YELL FOR HELP. REMAIN 
CALM...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 Brownsville, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Mar 12, 4:18 AM CDTSmall Craft Advisory for WindsBRO12 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Texas, 2017Every rip current statement in 2017

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.