Rip Current — Coastal Cameron, Texas

2010-07-14 · Coastal Cameron, Texas

Event narrative

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.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 249818. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.