Alert archive / Texas / Rip Current Statements in 2026
Rip Current Statement 9, NWS Houston/Galveston, TX
NWS Houston/Galveston, TX issued this rip current statement at May 18, 2026, 12:05 AM CDT for Brazoria County, Galveston County, Matagorda County, Texas. It took effect at May 18, 2026, 10:00 AM CDT. It was in force for 62 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- May 18, 2026, 12:05 AM CDT (05:05 UTC)
- In effect from
- May 18, 2026, 10:00 AM CDT
- Expired
- May 20, 2026, 11:57 PM CDT
- In force
- 62 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 05:06 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, 5.1 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 2461 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -136 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 879 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 26 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 137 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 197 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.7
- Supercell composite
- 11.3
The text
As transmitted.
850 WHUS44 KHGX 180505 CFWHGX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 1205 AM CDT Mon May 18 2026 TXZ436>439-181315- /O.NEW.KHGX.RP.S.0009.260518T1500Z-260520T0200Z/ /O.CON.KHGX.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260518T1500Z/ Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island- Bolivar Peninsula- 1205 AM CDT Mon May 18 2026 ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM CDT MONDAY... ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM CDT MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...For the Beach Hazards Statement, high risk of rip currents and elevated tide levels. 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 10 AM CDT Monday. For the High Rip Current Risk, from 10 AM CDT Monday through Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. High wave run up on area beaches possible. Water may briefly approach the Highway 87/124 intersection around high tide times. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Localized minor coastal flooding will be possible during times of high tide mainly near Galveston Bay. 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. Remain out of the water to avoid hazardous swimming conditions. && $$
7 follow-up statements
169 WHUS44 KHGX 181528 CFWHGX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 1028 AM CDT Mon May 18 2026 TXZ436>439-182330- /O.EXP.KHGX.BH.S.0001.000000T0000Z-260518T1500Z/ /O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260520T0200Z/ Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island- Bolivar Peninsula- 1028 AM CDT Mon May 18 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... ...BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT HAS EXPIRED... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. * WHEN...Through Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Swim near a lifeguard and away from rocks, jetties, and piers. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. && $$
057 WHUS44 KHGX 182018 CFWHGX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 318 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026 TXZ436>439-190800- /O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260520T0200Z/ Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island- Bolivar Peninsula- 318 PM CDT Mon May 18 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. * WHEN...Through Tuesday 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. && $$
924 WHUS44 KHGX 191344 CFWHGX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 844 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026 TXZ436>439-200300- /O.EXT.KHGX.RP.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260521T0300Z/ Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island- Bolivar Peninsula- 844 AM CDT Tue May 19 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. * WHEN...Through Wednesday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Swim near a lifeguard and away from rocks, jetties, and piers. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. && $$
027 WHUS44 KHGX 191756 CFWHGX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 1256 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026 TXZ436>439-200200- /O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260521T0300Z/ Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island- Bolivar Peninsula- 1256 PM CDT Tue May 19 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. * 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 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. && $$
707 WHUS44 KHGX 200636 CFWHGX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 136 AM CDT Wed May 20 2026 TXZ436>439-202245- /O.CON.KHGX.RP.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260521T0300Z/ Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island- Bolivar Peninsula- 136 AM CDT Wed May 20 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. * WHEN...Through this evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Swim near a lifeguard and away from rocks, jetties, and piers. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. && $$
686 WHUS44 KHGX 201942 CFWHGX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 242 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026 TXZ436>439-210345- /O.EXT.KHGX.RP.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260522T0200Z/ Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island- Bolivar Peninsula- 242 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK NOW IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Gulf-facing beaches, including the Matagorda Peninsula, Brazoria County beaches, Galveston Island and the Bolivar Peninsula. * 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 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. && $$
162 WHUS44 KHGX 210457 CFWHGX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 1157 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026 TXZ436>439-210600- /O.CAN.KHGX.RP.S.0009.000000T0000Z-260522T0200Z/ Matagorda Islands-Brazoria Islands-Galveston Island- Bolivar Peninsula- 1157 PM CDT Wed May 20 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IS CANCELLED... Surf heights have diminished as has the corresponding high risk of rip currents. That said, swimmers should always swim near a lifeguard and away from rocks, jetties and piers where rip currents are always present. $$
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.