Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2023

Rip Current Statement 45, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

August 8, 2023Brazoria County, Galveston County, Matagorda County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this rip current statement at Aug 8, 2023, 3:13 PM CDT for Brazoria County, Galveston County, Matagorda County, Texas. It was in force for 3 days.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Aug 8, 2023, 3:13 PM CDT (20:13 UTC)
Expired
Aug 11, 2023, 10:00 PM CDT
In force
3 days
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 20:18 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 12:00Z, 8.2 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 12:00Z on 2023-08-08Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 1670 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 2023-08-08The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -82 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
1670 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-91 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
788 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
11 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-82 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
81 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

155 
WHUS44 KHGX 082013
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
313 PM CDT Tue Aug 8 2023

TXZ436>439-090800-
/O.NEW.KHGX.RP.S.0045.230808T2013Z-230810T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
313 PM CDT Tue Aug 8 2023

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents

* WHERE...Matagorda Islands, Brazoria Islands, Galveston Island 
  and Bolivar Peninsula Counties.

* WHEN...Through Wednesday Evening

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.


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.

&&

$$
6 follow-up statements
794 
WHUS44 KHGX 090236
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
936 PM CDT Tue Aug 8 2023

TXZ436>439-091100-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0045.000000T0000Z-230810T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
936 PM CDT Tue Aug 8 2023

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Matagorda Islands, Brazoria Islands, Galveston Island 
  and Bolivar Peninsula Counties.

* WHEN...Through Wednesday Evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$
924 
WHUS44 KHGX 091528
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
1028 AM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023

TXZ436>439-100000-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0045.000000T0000Z-230810T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
1028 AM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Matagorda Islands, Brazoria Islands, Galveston Island 
  and Bolivar Peninsula Counties.

* WHEN...Until 7 PM CDT this evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$
130 
WHUS44 KHGX 092020
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
320 PM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023

TXZ436>439-100800-
/O.EXT.KHGX.RP.S.0045.000000T0000Z-230811T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
320 PM CDT Wed Aug 9 2023

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Matagorda Islands, Brazoria Islands, Galveston Island 
  and Bolivar Peninsula Counties.

* WHEN...Through Thursday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$
121 
WHUS44 KHGX 100734
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
234 AM CDT Thu Aug 10 2023

TXZ436>439-110000-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0045.000000T0000Z-230811T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
234 AM CDT Thu Aug 10 2023

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Matagorda Islands, Brazoria Islands, Galveston Island 
  and Bolivar Peninsula Counties.

* WHEN...Through this evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard and away from rocks, jetties and piers. 
If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against 
the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. 
If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$
373 
WHUS44 KHGX 101917
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
217 PM CDT Thu Aug 10 2023

TXZ436>439-111200-
/O.EXT.KHGX.RP.S.0045.000000T0000Z-230812T0300Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
217 PM CDT Thu Aug 10 2023

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Matagorda Islands, Brazoria Islands, Galveston Island 
  and Bolivar Peninsula Counties.

* WHEN...Through Friday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$
791 
WHUS44 KHGX 111533
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
1033 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023

TXZ436>439-120300-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0045.000000T0000Z-230812T0300Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
1033 AM CDT Fri Aug 11 2023

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Matagorda Islands, Brazoria Islands, Galveston Island 
  and Bolivar Peninsula Counties.

* WHEN...Through Friday evening.

* IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away 
  from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and
float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a
direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the
shore and call or wave for help.

&&

$$

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Aug 8, 3:34 AM CDTRed Flag WarningHGXAustin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Washington18 hr
Aug 8, 3:20 PM CDTHeat AdvisoryHGXMontgomery, Waller35 hr
Aug 8, 3:25 PM CDTRed Flag WarningHGXAustin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Grimes, Madison and 1 more30 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Texas, 2023Every rip current statement in 2023

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.