Large waves expected to pound South Padre Island and Boca Chica Chica Beach
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Hurricane Ike is continuing its path toward Port O'Connor but National Weather Service officials told Action 4 News that they plan to issue a coastal flood watch for the Rio Grande Valley.
The watch is expected to be in effect from 4 a.m. Thursday until 1 p.m. Saturday for the coastal communities in Cameron, Willacy and Kenedy Counties.
Swells from Ike are expected bring hazardous beach conditions to the lower Texas Coast by early Thursday morning.
Ike has entered the southeast Gulf of Mexico and as of 11 a.m. Wednesday as a Category 1 hurricane with winds near 90mph.
The storm last tracked about 750 miles southwest of Brownsville and moving west northwest at about 8 mph.
The present forecast track and intensity of Ike will send swells across the Gulf reaching local beaches on Thursday.
Breaking waves will be near 6 feet on Thursday; 8 to 10 feet near the jetties and breakwaters.
Waves will increase on Friday to 10 to 15 feet as the hurricane approaches the Texas Coast.
The hurricane is expected to make landfall late Friday night into early Saturday morning causing waves to gradually decrease Saturday morning.
High surf will pose a threat to life and property on Thursday.
Large waves are expected to break from the northeast in the surf zone.
High surf can erode beaches, move large logs and wash over jetties, and is particularly dangerous to people in the surf zone.
Due to the swells, rip current risk will be high.
Rip currents are life threatening to anyone entering the surf.
Coastal flooding is also likely along the lower Texas coastline.
Water will flood the beach up to the dunes resulting in beach erosion and also some roads could be under water.
Driving along area beaches is discouraged late Wednesday night through Saturday morning due to the potential high waterlines and rough surf.
If you become stranded, leave your vehicle and seek safety on higher ground.
High tide at South Padre Island on Thursday will be 4:09 am Thursday and the potential for coastal flooding will be greatest at this time.
A Coastal Flood Watch is issued for the possibility of coastal flooding generally within the next 24 to 48 hours: defined as tides exceeding 3 feet above mean lower low water.
Conditions could change very rapidly due to uncertainty in the forecast track and intensity of Hurricane Ike.
