Rip Current — Cameron Island, Texas

2022-07-02 · Cameron Island, Texas

Event narrative

Cameron County Beach Patrol responded to a call regarding two possible drowning victims, which came in around 7:10PM CDT on July 2nd. Witnesses suggested the fatality was rip/longshore current related, and an off-duty NWS employee vouched for the dangerous rip current/longshore current potential during the entire weekend (July 2-4).

A 37-year old tourist swimming in the Gulf of Mexico off South Padre Island, about 2.5 miles north of Cameron County Beach Access #5, drowned in the current. A child, age unknown, was also rescued from the water by bystanders before the Beach Patrol arrived.

Wider weather episode

Elevated longshore and rip currents at local beaches on the afternoon and evening of July 2nd contributed to a drowning and one successful rescue on South Padre Island. A slight southeasterly swell was noted at offshore buoys along with eyewitness accounts from those in the surf that weekend. Cameron County Beach Patrol responded to a call regarding two victims on the evening of July 2nd, with Beach Patrol suggesting the fatality was current-related.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1034220. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.