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The National Weather Service Brownsville-Rio Grande Valley station is warning of a high risk for rip currents, dangerous surf and minor coastal flooding along local beaches through Friday night related to Hurricane Helene.
A Coastal Flood Statement that was in effect for Cameron, Willacy and Kenedy counties through Friday morning was upgraded to a Coastal Flooding Advisory as of Thursday afternoon.
Waves could approach the dunes along isolated areas of narrow beaches during the period, while elevated seas associated with Helene will results in dangerous swimming conditions through Friday night, the NWS said. The storm, expected to make landfall as a major hurricane Thursday evening in Florida’s Big Bend/Tallahassee area, is not expected to have any other direct impact on the lower Texas coast, according to forecasters.
The NWS warned that rip currents can easily and rapidly sweep swimmers off their feet and out to sea into deeper waters, noting specifically an area of South Padre Island.
“The Isla Blanca rip, located just north of the jetty, is running dangerously fast and will take unanchored swimmers rapidly out to sea,” forecasters advised. “Death or injury by drowning is likely for those caught in the current. Other rips farther north could be similarly dangerous.”
The NWS said poor-to-average swimmers should not go into the way past their knees, and that experienced surfers, kite-boarders, etc., should be near others in the event an unusually strong current pulls them out to sea.
All swimmers should swim near supervised areas, according to the NWS. If caught in a rip current, it is advised to wave and yell, then swim parallel to the beach until out of the current, the weather service said. Trying to swim against a rip current only leads to exhaustion and, oftentimes, drowning.
The NWS also had a warning for drivers.
“Poor driving conditions are expected as water reaches the dunes, mainly near times of high tide,” the weather service advised. “At lower tides, some waves will run up toward the dunes and the beach will still be wet. Vehicles will not be able to drive on the beach.”
Beaches will be at their narrowest around high tide at 3:42 a.m. Friday, according to forecasters.
The NWS also announced a Small Craft Advisory for Gulf waters between 20 and 60 nautical miles in effect through 1 p.m. Friday. Seas of 4 to 7 feet are expected during the period.
