If you’re planning a beach trip along the Texas coast this weekend, pack an umbrella. A tropical disturbance moving through the Gulf of Mexico will bring storms, rip currents, and potential flooding to popular beach destinations on Friday, although clearer skies are expected by Sunday.
As a tropical depression moves west through the northern Gulf of Mexico this weekend, Texans planning to visit the coast may experience stormy skies and rough weather, especially on Friday.
The National Hurricane Center is monitoring the system, which is a disorganized area of low air pressure with only a 10% chance of developing into a tropical depression. The storm will not likely turn into Tropical Storm Dexter, but it will still change the weather at beaches along the Texas Gulf Coast.
The most likely storm day will be Friday, when showers and thunderstorms are likely to hit areas from Port Arthur to Corpus Christi. We expect between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain to fall on the central and northern coasts, particularly in areas such as Port O'Connor, Galveston, and Freeport. In some areas, up to 4 inches of rain could lead to flash flooding. Lightning, heavy rain, and wind gusts of up to 50 mph could happen during storms.
IIt will not rain as much in the areas farther south. Corpus Christi and Port Aransas are expected to receive less than half an inch of rain. South Padre Island was expected to be the driest, with occasional storms.
The weather forecast for Friday looks unfavorable, but conditions are expected to improve on Saturday as the center of the low-pressure system weakens and moves westward. Throughout the morning, the chance of rain will stay around 40%. By the afternoon, that chance should drop to 20% to 30%. High temperatures will range from the upper 80s to nearly 90°F in areas stretching from Corpus Christi to Galveston. There will be a mix of sun and clouds.
Sunday is the best day for the beach this weekend. The weather report says that it will be mostly sunny, with only a 20% chance of showers or clouds here and there. The temperatures are expected to rise into the upper 80s and low 90s in the afternoon, which is ideal for the beach.
However, because the Gulf seas are rough, rip current risks may still be present even when the weather improves. Beachgoers should heed neighborhood warnings and only swim in areas designated by lifeguards.
If you are planning to visit Galveston, Rockport, or South Padre Island, be sure to check the forecast and weather conditions before heading to the beach.
