Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2019

Rip Current Statement 30, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

September 16, 2019Brazoria County, Galveston County, Matagorda County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this rip current statement at Sep 16, 2019, 5:41 AM CDT for Brazoria County, Galveston County, Matagorda County, Texas. It was in force for 10 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 16, 2019, 5:41 AM CDT (10:41 UTC)
Expired
Sep 16, 2019, 4:03 PM CDT
In force
10 hr
Issued by
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

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

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 54 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 10:42 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, 10.7 hours before the alert went out and 241 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 2019-09-16Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 991 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 00:00Z on 2019-09-16The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -8 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
991 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-13 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1129 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
7 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-8 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
11 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

295 
WHUS44 KHGX 161041
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
541 AM CDT Mon Sep 16 2019

...Strong Rips Currents and Minor Beach Flooding through Tuesday
Morning...

.Strong easterly winds will induce strong rip currents and minor 
coastal flooding during times of high tide.

TXZ436>438-161845-
/O.NEW.KHGX.CF.S.0001.190916T1041Z-190917T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KHGX.RP.S.0030.190916T1041Z-190917T1200Z/
Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula-
Matagorda Islands-
541 AM CDT Mon Sep 16 2019

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

...COASTAL FLOODING POSSIBLE THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

* COASTAL FLOODING...Low lying areas along the immediate coast 
  may experience minor coastal flooding during high tide times. 

* TIMING...Through Tuesday morning.

* IMPACTS...Strong rip currents along Gulf facing beaches and
  minor flooding along flood prone roads may be possible along 
  Highway 87 near High Island and Blue Water Highway. 

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...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.

Driving vehicles on flooded beaches and roadways is discouraged.

&&

$$

TXZ214-313-335>338-161845-
/O.NEW.KHGX.CF.S.0001.190916T1041Z-190917T1200Z/
Chambers-Coastal Brazoria-Coastal Galveston-Coastal Harris-
Coastal Jackson-Coastal Matagorda-
541 AM CDT Mon Sep 16 2019

...COASTAL FLOODING POSSIBLE THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

* COASTAL FLOODING...Low lying areas along the immediate coast 
  may experience minor coastal flooding during high tide times.

* TIMING...Through Tuesday morning.

* IMPACTS...Minor flooding along flood prone roads such as
  Seabrook road. Other roads near the shore may also be at risk
  during times of high tide.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Driving vehicles on flooded beaches and roadways is discouraged.

$$
1 follow-up statement
779 
WHUS44 KHGX 162103
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
403 PM CDT Mon Sep 16 2019

...Strong Rip Currents and Minor Beach Flooding will be possible 
through Tuesday Morning...

.A Beach Hazards Statement has been issued to combine both the Rip 
Current Statement and Coastal Flood Statement. Strong easterly winds 
will induce strong rip currents and minor coastal flooding during times 
of high tide through at least Tuesday morning. This statement may need 
to be extended as elevated tide levels are expected to persist through 
mid week. 

TXZ436>438-171200-
/O.CAN.KHGX.CF.S.0001.000000T0000Z-190917T1200Z/
/O.CAN.KHGX.RP.S.0030.000000T0000Z-190917T1200Z/
/O.NEW.KHGX.BH.S.0006.190916T2103Z-190917T1200Z/
Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island and Bolivar Peninsula-
Matagorda Islands-
403 PM CDT Mon Sep 16 2019

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...

...High Rip Current Risk and Possible Coastal Flooding...

* HAZARDS...Elevated tide levels resulting in the risk for coastal flooding. 

* Timing...Through at least Tuesday morning.

* LOCATION...Along Gulf facing beaches.

* POTENTIAL IMPACTS...Strong rip currents along Gulf facing beaches and
  minor flooding along flood prone roads may be possible along 
  Highway 87 near High Island and Blue Water Highway. 

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.

Driving vehicles on flooded beaches and roadways is discouraged.

&&

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Beach Hazards Statement is issued when threats such as rip
currents...longshore currents...sneaker waves and other hazards
create life-threatening conditions in the surf zone. Caution
should be used when in or near the water.

&&

$$

TXZ214-313-335>338-162215-
/O.CAN.KHGX.CF.S.0001.000000T0000Z-190917T1200Z/
Chambers-Coastal Brazoria-Coastal Galveston-Coastal Harris-
Coastal Jackson-Coastal Matagorda-
403 PM CDT Mon Sep 16 2019

...The Risk for Strong Rip Currents and Coastal Flooding Remains Possible...

.A Beach Hazards Statement has been issued to combine both the Rip 
Current Statement and Coastal Flood Statement.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Driving vehicles on flooded beaches and roadways is discouraged.



$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 15, 8:32 PM CDTSpecial Marine WarningHGX28 min
Sep 15, 8:37 PM CDTSpecial Weather StatementHGXGalveston38 min
Sep 16, 5:41 AM CDTCoastal Flood StatementHGXBrazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jackson, Matagorda10 hr
Sep 16, 4:03 PM CDTBeach Hazards StatementHGXBrazoria, Galveston, Matagorda27 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Texas, 2019Every rip current statement in 2019

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.