Rip Current — Coastal Cameron, Texas

2021-05-23 · Coastal Cameron, Texas

Event narrative

Cameron County Beach Patrol responded to a call regarding a drowning victim which came in at 6:47 PM that evening. Witnesses suggested/confirmed the fatality was rip current related, and an off-duty NWS employee vouched for the dangerous rip current potential during the entire weekend (May 22-23).

Wider weather episode

Agitated Gulf seas occurred on the afternoon and evening of May 23rd, leading to an elevated risk for rip currents at local beaches. Pronounced easterly swell was noted in offshore buoys as well as via eyewitness accounts from those in the surf that weekend. Cameron County Beach Patrol responded to a call regarding a drowning victim later that evening, with witnesses suggesting/confirming the fatality was rip current related.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 960751. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.