(Corpus Christi)—Rip currents along the South Texas coast can be extremely dangerous for swimmers, particularly during storms and cold fronts and near man-made structures, according to a recently published report by a Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi professor. People who venture into the wrong waters can be quickly driven seaward with no chance of being able to swim directly against the rip current.
Luc Tissot (Photo courtesy of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
While conducting a Texas Sea Grant-funded study, Philippe Tissot, an assistant professor of physics and physical sciences, confirmed that rip currents regularly take place along the South Texas coast and can be particularly strong and dangerous during storms and frontal passages.
The study emphasized the important role of man-made structures such as piers and jetties for the onset of rip currents. Such structures can be found on the highly-visited beaches around Corpus Christi and South Padre Island where the almost daily occurrence of rip currents may have as much to do with man-made structures as meteorological conditions. His findings were published in the spring 2006 issue of "Texas Shores," a quarterly publication of Texas Sea Grant College Program.
Rip currents, which are sometimes confused with rip tides or undertows, are seaward moving currents which, after being pushed ashore, retreat along the path of least resistance, especially in areas where the strength of the waves have been weakened by jetties, piers, natural reefs and even large numbers of swimmers. They often look like muddy rivers flowing away from shore.
The problem is exacerbated, Tissot pointed out, by the fact that the majority of casual beach-goers in South Texas often attend beaches that include piers and jetties which help generate the rip currents.
"While the strongest rip currents occur during the passage of a tropical storm, rip currents can be extremely dangerous on any given day for swimmers who get too close to piers, jetties, seawalls and natural passages," Tissot warned. "The majority of the area's most frequented beaches such as Port Aransas, Bob Hall Pier and Isla Blanca all have these types of structures which can create hazardous surf conditions along an otherwise featureless coast by facilitating the generation of such currents."
Rip currents are recognized by the National Weather Service as the leading surf hazard for beach-goers. Because the horizontal currents run perpendicular to the shore and are not necessarily accompanied by high waves, many swimmers are oblivious to the dangers lurking in even shallow waters. These currents, which can stretch up to 50 yards wide and reach speeds of up to 8 feet per second, push the victim further from shore where they often find themselves in distress and too exhausted to swim back to shore.
"When swimmers are caught in a strong rip current they often have difficulty reacting and saving their lives," said Tissot. "Near South Texas piers and jetties the situation can become even more dangerous if the swimmer becomes disoriented by the interaction between long shore currents, loop currents and the rip currents, and is swept out to sea."
Tissot, who cautioned swimmers to stay at least 100 feet from piers, jetties and other such man made structures while in the water, pointed out that although the presence of rip currents near man-made structures is well-known to scientists the public might not be as aware of the danger.
He said more monitoring and studies should be conducted to be able to better understand and predict the onset of rip currents and that specific postings could be added near pier and jetties.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, approximately 80 percent of rescues by lifeguards on the Texas Gulf Coast involve people caught in rip currents.
Tissot, whose study included data on more than 160 cases of drowning and near-drowning on Nueces County and Cameron County beaches since 1983, stressed that other factors are likely very important for the prospect of swimmers finding themselves in distress.
In particular, the study did not find a significant correlation between meteorological and oceanic conditions favoring the onset of strong rip currents and the timing of swimmer in distress events suggesting that these other factors are at least as important as rip currents.
The strong southeasterly South Texas winds create strong long shore currents which can be a problem particularly when coupled with the deeper areas between shallow sand bars.
Unsuspecting swimmers and in particular children can be taken by surprise.
Beachgoers should also be aware that there are no lifeguards on some of
the well attended South Texas beaches. Finally, the consumption of
alcohol by beach-goers is likely to be an important factor in a number
of incidents, he added. Beach-goers should refrain from drinking excessive
alcoholic beverages before swimming or playing in the surf. 