Rip Current — Coastal Cameron, Texas

2011-06-17 · Coastal Cameron, Texas

Event narrative

A 66 year old man from Monterrey (state of Nuevo Leon) Mexico became in distress after being reportedly swept away from the Isla Blanca Park jetties on South Padre Island shortly after noon of June 17th. The man was found about one half mile north of the jetties and brought to shore, but by the time paramedics arrived, was unresponsive. After no revival after CPR was administered, the man was pronounced dead.

While the weather was sunny and hot, the water was disturbed. Winds at offshore buoys ranged from 14 to 21 knots, with frequent gusts from 15 to as high as 27 knots through the day. Seas at a NOAA Buoy about 50 nautical miles east northeast of Port Mansfield rising to 7.2 feet, with a 7 to 8 second swell period, from late morning through early afternoon. Photos taken by a local surfing instructor showed estimated 2 to 3+ foot waves with choppy waters.

Wider weather episode

Persistent southeasterly flow driven by enhanced low pressure east of the Sierra Madre Mountains and High Pressure over the central Gulf of Mexico increased sustained winds and drove seas over 7 feet offshore, creating relatively rough and confused surf along South Padre Island, enhanced by the jetties at Isla Blanca Park. The current took the life of a swimmer during the afternoon of June 17th.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 318289. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.