Rip Current — Coastal Cameron, Texas

2010-07-28 · Coastal Cameron, Texas

Event narrative

A local surfing instructor and trained spotter found a man unconscious in the water after hearing shouts from concerned family members. Though the victim was estimated to be a weak swimmer, moderate to strong rip currents likely caused the fatality, based on surf heights still 4 to 6 feet in the area, offshore sea heights 5 to 6 feet at the estimated time of death, and swell period of 6 to 7 seconds, all from a primary east-southeast swell.

Wider weather episode

High seas, swells, and surf, produced by the difference between relatively strong high pressure centered over Alabama and Mississippi and low pressure in the lee of the Sierra Madre Oriental of northern Mexico increased along shore currents at South Padre Island, along with rip currents near the jetties (which focus wave energy), during the day and evening of July 28th. At daybreak, seas were still up near 7 feet along with a 7 to 8 second swell period and an average period above 5 seconds at the NOAA buoy around 60 miles northeast of the beach. Seas continued between 5 and 6 feet during the day, with peak swell period running around 7 seconds.

A rip current aided by the east-southeast swell claimed the life of a man near the South Padre Island jetties near Isla Blanca Park during the late afternoon or early evening on the 28th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 249621. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.