Texas, 2010Rip Current in Texas, July 14, 2010
July 14, 2010 · NWS BRO · 1 event in 1 county or zone
High seas, swells, and surf, produced by persistent southeast flow between high pressure in the eastern Gulf and low pressure in the lee of the Sierra Madre Oriental of northern Mexico maintained along shore currents at South Padre Island and perhaps rip currents near the Isla Blanca jetties (which focus wave energy) from July 12th through 13th. On these days, offshore seas rose to between 6 and…
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 1
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
High seas, swells, and surf, produced by persistent southeast flow between high pressure in the eastern Gulf and low pressure in the lee of the Sierra Madre Oriental of northern Mexico maintained along shore currents at South Padre Island and perhaps rip currents near the Isla Blanca jetties (which focus wave energy) from July 12th through 13th. On these days, offshore seas rose to between 6 and 8 feet, with a swell period nearing 7 seconds. On the 14th, seas would begin dropping slowly falling to 5 to 6 feet with peak swell period dropping back to 5 or 6 seconds and an average period between 4 and 5 feet.
During the time when conditions were improving but still potentially hazardous, one person drowned in the surf along Isla Blanca Park.
What forecasters said that day
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Brownsville, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jul 14, 12:39 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Jul 14, 12:39 PM CST, 2 hours 21 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
139 PM CDT WED JUL 14 2010
.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH 7 AM FRIDAY/...THE MID LEVEL RIDGING
OVER THE REGION WILL GRADUALLY BEGIN TO RETROGRADE WEST OVER THE
NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS ALLOWING TROFFING TO BUILD IN TO THE REGION FROM
THE GULF. THE TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL STILL BE LAGGING ACROSS THE
REGION REMAINING POOLED OVER THE GULF OF MEX. THIS PATTERN WILL
MAINTAIN STATUS QUO CONDITIONS OVER THE REGION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE
OF DAYS WITH NO MAJOR CHANGES OCCURRING. THE PGF WILL BE WEAKENING
SOME DURING THIS PERIOD GENERATING LIGHTER WINDS FROM THE S-SE. THE
CURRENT SHORT TERM FORECAST WORDING LOOKS ON TRACK WITH NO MAJOR
CHANGES NEEDED. THE HEAT INDICES WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM DUE
TO THE COMBINATION OF THE HIGH TEMPS AND ELEVATED HUMIDITY VALUES.
HOWEVER THE MAX HEAT INDICES DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS WILL LIKELY
REMAIN BELOW HEAT ADVISORY CRIT.
&&
.LONG TERM /7 AM FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...LATE THIS WEEK INTO
THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BE LOCATED
ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO AND A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL EXTEND
INTO DEEP SOUTH TEXAS. THESE SYSTEMS WILL MAINTAIN LIGHT TO
MODERATE SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS AND GENERALLY PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES
ACROSS THE CWA FOR THE FORECAST PERIOD. THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE
FOR SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS PORTIONS OF
DEEP SOUTH TEXAS THIS WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE SHOWER
ACTIVITY WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY AND
PRIMARILY AFFECT THE COASTAL AND CENTRAL COUNTIES DURING THE
AFTERNOONS AND EARLY EVENINGS AS THE SEA BREEZE BOUNDARY MOVES
INLAND. THE TEMPERATURES WILL BE SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN NORMAL FOR
THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THE END OF THIS WEEK THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF
NEXT WEEK.
&&
.MARINE...TONIGHT THROUGH 7 AM FRIDAY...BUOY REPORTS AND SURFACE
OBS FROM ACROSS THE BAY AND GULF WATERS THIS AFTERNOON INDICATE THAT
CONDITIONS WILL LIKELY REMAIN JUST BELOW SCA LEVELS FOR TODAY AS THE
PGF CONTINUES TO WEAKEN SLOWLY. SO WILL MAINTAIN SCEC CONDITIONS FOR
BOTH THE BAY AND GULF WATERS THIS AFTERNOON AND THIS EVENING. CONDITIONS
ACROSS THE BAY MAY BRIEF REACH SCA LEVELS BUT FOR NOW WILL NOT
MENTION ANY SCAS HERE. THE PGF WILL CONTINUE TO WEAKEN THROUGH THURS
ALLOWING THE WINDS AND SEAS TO SLOWLY IMPROVE. THE CURRENT CWF
WORDING LOOKS ON TRACK.
7 AM FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...A HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL BE
LOCATED ACROSS THE CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO WITH A HIGH PRESSURE
RIDGE EXTENDING INTO THE MARINE AREAS THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK.
THESE SYSTEMS WILL MAINTAIN LIGHT TO MODERATE SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS
AND LOW SEAS ACROSS THE MARINE AREAS THIS WEEKEND THROUGH THE
MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK.
&&
.AVIATION...VSBL SATL IMAGERY AND SURFACE OBS INDICATE THAT THE
PATCHY SC/CU WILL LIKELY LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS AS
THE DAYTIME HEATING INCREASES. THIS WILL PERIODICALLY REDUCE
CEILINGS INTO THE MVFR RANGE ACROSS THE LOWER RGV AIRPORTS TODAY.
EXPECT OVERALL VFR CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY
THIS EVENING AS THE LOW LEVEL MIXING LINGERS. NIGHTTIME SCT TO BKN
SC DECKS WILL BE POSSIBLE ONCE AGAIN ACROSS THE REGION AS THE MOIST
NOCTURNAL INVERSION REFORMS. THIS WILL PRODUCE SOME MVFR CONDITIONS
DURING THE LATE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING HOURS.
&&
.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
BAYVIEW/PORT ISABEL 94 80 94 78 / 10 10 10 0
BROWNSVILLE 93 78 93 77 / 10 10 10 0
HARLINGEN 95 77 95 76 / 10 10 10 0
MCALLEN 97 79 97 77 / 10 10 10 0
RIO GRANDE CITY 98 78 98 77 / 0 10 10 0
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND 88 80 88 80 / 0 10 10 0
&&
.BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
TX...NONE.
GM...NONE.
&&
THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT:
HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/BROWNSVILLE
60/63
Hazardous weather outlook, Jul 14, 12:25 PM CST, 2 hours 35 minutes before
HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BROWNSVILLE TX
125 PM CDT WED JUL 14 2010
GMZ130-132-135-150-155-170-175-151100-
LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE PORT OF BROWNSVILLE TO THE ARROYO COLORADO-
LAGUNA MADRE FROM THE ARROYO COLORADO TO 5 NM NORTH OF PORT
MANSFIELD TX-
LAGUNA MADRE FROM 5 NM NORTH OF PORT MANSFIELD TO BAFFIN BAY TX-
COASTAL WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM PORT MANSFIELD TO THE RIO GRANDE EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
WATERS FROM BAFFIN BAY TO PORT MANSFIELD EXTENDING FROM 20 TO
60 NM-
125 PM CDT WED JUL 14 2010
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO AND THE
LAGUNA MADRE.
.DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT.
WINDS: SOUTHEAST WINDS 15 TO 20 KNOTS AND GUSTY WILL CONTINUE
MODERATE TO DIFFICULT BOATING CONDITIONS FOR THE LAGUNA MADRE AND
THE LOWER TEXAS GULF WATERS TODAY. WINDS WILL REMAIN AT 15 TO 20
KNOTS OVERNIGHT...REQUIRING CAUTION FOR BOATERS IN THE OPEN GULF
WATERS.
SEAS AND WAVES: CHOPPY WATERS WITH WAVE HEIGHTS FROM 4 TO 6 FEET IN
THE OPEN GULF...AND A 7 SECOND SWELL PERIOD...WILL PREVAIL THIS THIS
AFTERNOON. THE CONDITIONS WILL GRADUALLY IMPROVE THIS AFTERNOON AND
OVERNIGHT WITH HEIGHTS FALLING AND SWELL PERIOD DECREASING.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
LIGHT WINDS AND SLIGHT TO MODERATE SEAS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE
PERIOD. FAIR WEATHER WILL CONTINUE THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. ISOLATED
MAINLY LATE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE
SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
TXZ250-251-253>257-151100-
BROOKS-KENEDY-HIDALGO-INLAND WILLACY-INLAND CAMERON-
COASTAL WILLACY-COASTAL CAMERON-
125 PM CDT WED JUL 14 2010
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.
.DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT.
HEAT: SEASONAL TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH ABOVE AVERAGE HUMIDITY
WILL BRING APPARENT TEMPERATURES TO BETWEEN 105 AND 108 THIS
AFTERNOON. RESIDENTS AND OUTDOOR WORKERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO
EXERCISE HEAT SAFETY...INCLUDING TAKING FREQUENT BREAKS IN SHADED
AREAS...DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER...WEARING LIGHT WEIGHT LOOSE
FITTING CLOTHING...AND RESERVING STRENUOUS EXERCISE FOR THE LATE
EVENING OR EARLY MORNING HOURS.
RIP CURRENTS: CONTINUED HIGH WAVES OFFSHORE WILL MAINTAIN A
MODERATE TO HIGH RISK FOR LONGSHORE CURRENTS ALONG SOUTH PADRE
ISLAND...ALONG WITH SOME RISK OF RIP CURRENTS NEAR THE ISLA BLANCA
JETTIES TODAY. INEXPERIENCED SWIMMERS SHOULD REMAIN IN SHALLOW
WATER.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
HEAT: AFTERNOON APPARENT TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE AT 105 TO 108
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...REMAINING AROUND 105 EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH
THE WEEKEND.
THUNDERSTORMS: ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY
THROUGH MONDAY...MAINLY DURING THE LATE MORNING AND EARLY
AFTERNOON HOURS. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...A BRIEF DOWNPOUR...AND A
WIND GUST TO 25 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
TXZ248-249-252-151100-
ZAPATA-JIM HOGG-STARR-
125 PM CDT WED JUL 14 2010
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR DEEP SOUTH TEXAS.
.DAY ONE...REST OF TODAY AND TONIGHT.
HEAT: SEASONAL TEMPERATURES COMBINED WITH ABOVE AVERAGE HUMIDITY
WILL BRING APPARENT TEMPERATURES TO AROUND 105 THIS AFTERNOON.
RESIDENTS AND OUTDOOR WORKERS SHOULD CONTINUE TO EXERCISE HEAT
SAFETY...INCLUDING TAKING FREQUENT BREAKS IN SHADED
AREAS...DRINKING PLENTY OF WATER...WEARING LIGHT WEIGHT LOOSE
FITTING CLOTHING...AND RESERVING STRENUOUS EXERCISE FOR THE LATE
EVENING OR EARLY MORNING HOURS.
.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY.
HEAT: AFTERNOON APPARENT TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE AT 105 TO 108
THURSDAY AFTERNOON...REMAINING AROUND 105 EACH AFTERNOON THROUGH
THE WEEKEND.
THUNDERSTORMS: ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ARE POSSIBLE SATURDAY
THROUGH MONDAY...MAINLY DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING
HOURS. OCCASIONAL LIGHTNING...A BRIEF DOWNPOUR...AND A WIND GUST
TO 25 MPH ARE POSSIBLE.
.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED.
Rip Current, Coastal Cameron
- When
- July 14, 3:00 PM CST to 3:30 PM CST
- Where
- Coastal Cameron forecast zone
- Deaths
- 1 direct, 0 indirect
- Reported by
- Law Enforcement
A young man was found unconscious in the surf immediately offshore of Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island during the mid to late afternoon of July 14th. The man was likely a poor swimmer, and succumbed to either a rip current enhanced by water movement near the jetties. While seas and surf had fallen to moderate levels - offshore seas had dropped below 5 feet and peak swell period was around 6 seconds - enough residual dangerous surf and current may have contributed to the death.
- Rip Current
- A narrow, fast current flowing away from the beach that caused a drowning or rescue.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
- High Surf in California, July 14, 20104 deaths · $20,000 · 1 event
- Excessive Heat in Missouri, July 14, 201034 injured · 29 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Wisconsin, July 14, 20102 injured · $1.9 million · EF2 · 29 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in North Dakota, July 14, 2010$4.7 million · EF2 · 15 events
- Heat in New Mexico, July 14, 20101 death · 1 event
- Tornado and Flash Flooding in Wisconsin, July 14, 20101 injured · $551,000 · EF0 · 44 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flood in Minnesota, July 14, 2010$860,000 · EF1 · 14 events
- Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Wisconsin, July 14 to 15, 2010$106,000 · EF1 · 35 events
- Tornadoes and Hail in Minnesota, July 14, 2010$179,000 · EF1 · 20 events
- Flood in Texas, July 14 to 24, 2010$1.0 million · 1 event
- Hail and Damaging Winds in Kansas, July 14, 2010$361,000 · 1.5 in hail · 9 events
- Tornado in Pennsylvania, July 14, 2010$500,000 · EF0 · 1 event
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 249818.