Rip Current in Coastal Cameron, Texas

The United States Coast Guard and South Padre Island officials reported the deaths of two men in unrelated drowning incidents on June 1.

One man drowned near County Beach Access # 5 when overcome by a large wave and was unable to make it back to shore. A second man drowned nearby while swimming offshore and being caught in either strong rip or longshore (cross) currents. Alcohol may have partially contributed to each drowning.

After a spring filled with gusty winds and choppy to rough surf, the period from Memorial Day through the first weekend after it, was one of the best so far in 2008 for local beach goers, with sunny skies, warm air temperatures, lighter winds, and nearshore water temperatures around 80 degrees.

Unfortunately, residual swell and longshore current from the end of May, maintaining a strong southeast-to-northwest undertow, as well as the possibility of a rip current, helped contribute to two drownings on the 1st of June, both at more remote beach access points on South Padre Island.