Sadly over the weekend, we had a drowning death in Galveston. This is the fifth death in Galveston this year. If you are headed to the coast, it is imperative that you stay alert to the risks, especially when we have rough conditions like we are expecting this week.
Swimmers at any Gulf-facing beaches will want to be alert for the potential for rip currents all week. The National Weather Service (NWS) waits until beach patrol reports on the day’s conditions, which is why there is rarely a high rip current risk issued in advance along the coast.
I spoke with Jimmy Fowler from the NWS who stressed, “just because there’s not a high risk for rip currents does not mean there is no risk for rip currents.” It’s important to teach your children what to do if they get caught in a rip current, here’s how to survive if you get caught in troubled waters.
Persistent onshore winds are keeping conditions much choppier than usual. Surf is 2-3 feet, which is thigh to waist deep.
We are also expecting water levels to be elevated above the already high astronomical tide levels in the first half of this week. This, in part, is because of our moon cycle, but the onshore winds also help push water onto the shore.
Don’t let the coastal alerts stop you from heading to the coast! This is just a reminder to be alert. If you are headed to the coast, the waters are warm in the mid-80s and our UV index is extreme, so slather on the sunscreen.
If you snap any photos at the beach, we’d love to see them! Send them in to Click2Pins! Stay safe out there.
