Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2025

Rip Current Statement 8, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX

May 15, 2025Brazoria County, Galveston County, Matagorda County, Texas

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this rip current statement at May 15, 2025, 4:11 PM CDT for Brazoria County, Galveston County, Matagorda County, Texas. It took effect at May 15, 2025, 7:00 PM CDT. It was in force for 54 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
May 15, 2025, 4:11 PM CDT (21:11 UTC)
In effect from
May 15, 2025, 7:00 PM CDT
Expired
May 18, 2025, 1:00 AM CDT
In force
54 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 21:10 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, 9.2 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 2025-05-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 88 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 2025-05-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -165 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
88 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
2111 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
25 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-165 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
-112 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

844 
WHUS44 KHGX 152111
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
411 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

TXZ436>439-160515-
/O.NEW.KHGX.RP.S.0008.250516T0000Z-250517T0000Z/
/O.CON.KHGX.BH.S.0004.000000T0000Z-250516T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
411 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT THIS
EVENING...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM CDT THIS EVENING
THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...For the Beach Hazards Statement, dangerous rip currents 
  and above normal tides expected. For the High Rip Current Risk, 
  dangerous rip currents expected.

* WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda 
  Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the 
  Bolivar Peninsula.

* WHEN...For the Beach Hazards Statement, until 7 PM CDT this 
  evening. For the High Rip Current Risk, from 7 PM CDT this 
  evening 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 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.

&&

$$
6 follow-up statements
244 
WHUS44 KHGX 160656
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
156 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

TXZ436>439-170000-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0008.000000T0000Z-250517T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
156 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda 
  Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the 
  Bolivar Peninsula.

* 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.

&&

$$
195 
WHUS44 KHGX 161512
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
1012 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

TXZ436>439-162315-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0008.000000T0000Z-250517T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
1012 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda 
  Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the 
  Bolivar Peninsula.

* 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 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.

&&

$$
352 
WHUS44 KHGX 162051
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
351 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

TXZ436>439-170000-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0008.000000T0000Z-250517T0000Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
351 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

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

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda 
  Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the 
  Bolivar Peninsula.

* 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 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.

&&

$$
833 
WHUS44 KHGX 162225
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
525 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

TXZ436>439-170630-
/O.EXT.KHGX.RP.S.0008.000000T0000Z-250518T0600Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
525 PM CDT Fri May 16 2025

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE SATURDAY
NIGHT...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda 
  Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the 
  Bolivar Peninsula.

* WHEN...Through late Saturday night.

* 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.

&&

$$
877 
WHUS44 KHGX 170648
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
148 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

TXZ436>439-171500-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0008.000000T0000Z-250518T0600Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
148 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda 
  Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the 
  Bolivar Peninsula.

* WHEN...Through late Saturday night.

* 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.

&&

$$
596 
WHUS44 KHGX 171424
CFWHGX

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX
924 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

TXZ436>439-172230-
/O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0008.000000T0000Z-250518T0600Z/
Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island-
Bolivar Peninsula-
924 AM CDT Sat May 17 2025

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...

* WHAT...Dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda 
  Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the 
  Bolivar Peninsula.

* WHEN...Through late Saturday night.

* 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.

&&

$$

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Texas, 2025Every rip current statement in 2025

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.