Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2026

Rip Current Statement 10, NWS Brownsville, TX

February 21, 2026Cameron County, Kenedy County, Willacy County, Texas

NWS Brownsville, TX issued this rip current statement at Feb 21, 2026, 3:12 AM CST for Cameron County, Kenedy County, Willacy County, Texas. It took effect at Feb 21, 2026, 6:00 PM CST. It was in force for 36 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Feb 21, 2026, 3:12 AM CST (09:12 UTC)
In effect from
Feb 21, 2026, 6:00 PM CST
Expired
Feb 23, 2026, 6:00 AM CST
In force
36 hr
Issued by
NWS Brownsville, TX

Counties Cameron County, TX, Kenedy County, TX, Willacy County, TX

The radar

The Brownsville radar (KBRO), 69 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 09:13 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

Brownsville Intl, TX (KBRO), launched 00:00Z, 9.2 hours before the alert went out and 71 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, Brownsville Intl, TX at 00:00Z on 2026-02-21Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 923 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, Brownsville Intl, TX at 00:00Z on 2026-02-21The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 131 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
923 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-600 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
1223 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
42 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
131 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
92 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

080 
WHUS44 KBRO 210912
CFWBRO

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
312 AM CST Sat Feb 21 2026

TXZ451-454-455-220000-
/O.NEW.KBRO.SU.Y.0006.260222T0600Z-260223T0000Z/
/O.NEW.KBRO.RP.S.0010.260222T0000Z-260223T0000Z/
Kenedy Island-Willacy Island-Cameron Island-
312 AM CST Sat Feb 21 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH
SUNDAY AFTERNOON...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 6 PM CST
SUNDAY...

* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents 
  expected. For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 
  5 to 10 feet expected in the surf zone.

* WHERE...Kenedy Island, Willacy Island and Cameron Island 
  Counties.

* WHEN...For the High Rip Current Risk, from this evening 
  through Sunday afternoon. For the High Surf Advisory, from 
  midnight tonight to 6 PM CST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and 
  localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best 
  swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.

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.

&&

$$
5 follow-up statements
369 
WHUS44 KBRO 212044
CFWBRO

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
244 PM CST Sat Feb 21 2026

TXZ451-454-455-220700-
/O.CON.KBRO.SU.Y.0006.260222T0600Z-260223T0000Z/
/O.CON.KBRO.RP.S.0010.260222T0000Z-260223T0000Z/
Kenedy Island-Willacy Island-Cameron Island-
244 PM CST Sat Feb 21 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 PM CST THIS
EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
6 PM CST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents
  expected. For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 5
  to 8 feet expected in the surf zone.

* WHERE...Kenedy Island, Willacy Island and Cameron Island 
  Counties.

* WHEN...For the High Rip Current Risk, from 6 PM CST this 
  evening through Sunday afternoon. For the High Surf Advisory, 
  from midnight tonight to 6 PM CST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and 
  localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best 
  swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.

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.

&&

$$
928 
WHUS44 KBRO 220341
CFWBRO

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
941 PM CST Sat Feb 21 2026

TXZ451-454-455-221200-
/O.CON.KBRO.SU.Y.0006.260222T0600Z-260223T0000Z/
/O.CON.KBRO.RP.S.0010.000000T0000Z-260223T0000Z/
Kenedy Island-Willacy Island-Cameron Island-
941 PM CST Sat Feb 21 2026

...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SUNDAY
AFTERNOON...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM CST SUNDAY...

* WHAT...For the High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents.
  For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 5 to 8  
  feet expected in the surf zone.

* WHERE...Kenedy Island, Willacy Island and Cameron Island 
  Counties.

* WHEN...For the High Rip Current Risk, through Sunday 
  afternoon. For the High Surf Advisory, until 6 PM CST Sunday.

* IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and 
  localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best 
  swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.

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.

&&

$$
600 
WHUS44 KBRO 221742
CFWBRO

Coastal Hazard Message
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
1142 AM CST Sun Feb 22 2026

TXZ451-454-455-230600-
/O.CON.KBRO.SU.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-260223T1200Z/
/O.CON.KBRO.RP.S.0010.000000T0000Z-260223T1200Z/
Kenedy Island-Willacy Island-Cameron Island-
1142 AM CST Sun Feb 22 2026

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST MONDAY...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST MONDAY...

* WHAT...For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 4 
  to 7 feet in the surf zone. For the High Rip Current Risk, 
  dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Kenedy Island, Willacy Island and Cameron Island 
  Counties.

* WHEN...Until 6 AM CST Monday.

* IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and 
  localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best 
  swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.

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.

&&

$$
283 
WHUS44 KBRO 230558 AAA
CFWBRO

Coastal Hazard Message...UPDATED
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
1158 PM CST Sun Feb 22 2026

TXZ451-454-455-231200-
/O.CON.KBRO.SU.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-260223T1200Z/
/O.CON.KBRO.RP.S.0010.000000T0000Z-260223T1200Z/
Kenedy Island-Willacy Island-Cameron Island-
1158 PM CST Sun Feb 22 2026

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST MONDAY...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM CST
MONDAY...

* WHAT...For the High Surf Advisory, large breaking waves of 4 
  to 5 feet in the surf zone. For the High Rip Current Risk, 
  dangerous rip currents.

* WHERE...Kenedy Island, Willacy Island and Cameron Island 
  Counties.

* WHEN...Until 6 AM CST Monday.

* IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and 
  localized beach erosion. Rip currents can sweep even the best 
  swimmers away from shore into deeper water.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

Inexperienced swimmers should remain out of the water due to
dangerous surf conditions.

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.

&&

$$
843 
WHUS44 KBRO 231208 AAA
CFWBRO

Coastal Hazard Message...UPDATED
National Weather Service Brownsville TX
608 AM CST Mon Feb 23 2026

TXZ451-454-455-231315-
/O.EXP.KBRO.SU.Y.0006.000000T0000Z-260223T1200Z/
/O.EXP.KBRO.RP.S.0010.000000T0000Z-260223T1200Z/
Kenedy Island-Willacy Island-Cameron Island-
608 AM CST Mon Feb 23 2026

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY HAS EXPIRED...
...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK HAS EXPIRED...

Buoy observations along the Lower Texas Coast indicate that seas
are gradually subsiding in the wake of the recent cold front. As a
result, the High Surf Advisory is no longer in affect, and there
is no longer a High Risk of rip currents at the local beaches. 

However, there is now a Moderate Risk of rip currents at the
beaches along the Lower Texas Coast from now until around sunset
Tuesday. 

$$

TOMASELLI

The office that day

Everything else NWS Brownsville, TX issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Feb 20, 9:45 PM CSTFire Weather WatchBROBrooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr and 2 more25 hr
Feb 21, 3:12 AM CSTHigh Surf AdvisoryBROCameron, Kenedy, Willacy51 hr
Feb 21, 11:31 AM CSTGale WarningBRO24 hr
Feb 21, 11:31 AM CSTSmall Craft AdvisoryBRO40 hr

Nearby

Rip Current Statements in Texas, 2026Every rip current statement in 2026

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.