Rainfall Averaging 1 to 3 Inches Expected to Develop Saturday and Continue through Sunday.
Timing and Overview:
Tides and Rip Currents: High tide is approaching over South Texas beaches, with high tide at Port Aransas occurring at 447 PM and Bob Hall Pier around 506 PM. Due to high period swells in the gulf, higher than predicted tide levels are occurring, along with a high risk of rip currents. Latest web cams are showing water moving farther inland than normal, and tide stations are showing tide levels around 0.5 feet above predicted levels. There is still a chance that isolated minor tidal overflow, with water reaching the dunes, will be possible for a few more hours this evening before the waters recede as low tide approaches early Saturday morning. As a result, the Coastal Flood Advisory and High Rip Current Risk Will continue through midnight.
Rainfall: Additionally, an approaching upper level disturbance and developing coastal trough will result in periods of moderate to possibly heavy rainfall this weekend. Widespread rain will begin Saturday and continue Saturday night, tapering off from west to east on Sunday as the upper disturbance moves east.
Flash flooding is not expected at this time because:
1) The majority of precipitation will be strati-form in nature,
2) The duration of the precipitation will range from 12 to 24 hours (or longer);
3) Soils are drier over most areas where the heavier rainfall is expected.
However, some areas may experience minor/nuisance areal flooding if persistent heavy rainfall accumulates. Scattered thunderstorms producing heavy rainfall are not expected at this time, although a rumble of thunder is possible.
South Texas Impacts:
Rainfall: 1 to 3 inches on average, with locally higher amounts.
Wind: Generally east wind around 20 knots tonight, continuing east around 20 knots offshore waters (20 to 60 nautical miles offshore) and 15 to 20 knots nearshore (within 20 nautical miles offshore) waters on Saturday. Wind becoming southeast 20 to 25 knots Saturday night.
Seas/Bays: Seas 6 to 8 feet Nearshore Coastal Waters and 8 to 10 feet Offshore Coastal Waters.
Impacts (Coast): Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, and which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and in the vicinity of structures such as jetties or piers. Under these conditions, it is advisable to swim near a lifeguard. Water may reach the dunes of Coastal Kleberg and Nueces Counties, which may limit or inhibit the ability to drive along the beach. Flash flooding is a very dangerous and potentially life-threatening condition.
Impacts (Rainfall): Some areas (mainly the coastal counties of South Texas) could experience minor nuisance flooding of streets and roadways if persistent heavy rainfall occurs over the same area for a few hours.
Additional Information Resources:
NWS Corpus Christi Webpage: www.weather.gov/corpuschristi
Online Flood Reporting: www.srh.noaa.gov/StormReport/S
AHPS River Forecasts: water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.
Sincerely,
Greg Wilk
NWS Corpus Christi, TX
