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Hurricane Dean Generates Waves On Texas Beaches
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Surf's up! And those who love to ride well-waxed boards through storm-tossed waves are thanking Hurricane Dean for it.
As the big storm was slamming into Mexico for a second time Wednesday, it sent big swells sweeping across the Gulf of Mexico, bringing higher than usual tides and waves to the Texas coast.
 "This is the place," said David Walker, 56, of Houston, as he watched surfers walk out on the Freeport jetty, jump off the rocks and ride the waves ashore. "This is where the big waves are when there's a storm out there."
Walker said he's been surfing in Surfside since 1966 when a friend brought him there.
"I'd moved to Texas from California and I didn't know there was even a beach in Texas," he said.
The confused, cappuccino-colored surf looked more ominous than inviting. The National Weather Service issued a coastal flood statement Wednesday warning people not to even try to swim in the Gulf because rip currents are unusually dangerous, said meteorologist Debby Helvy.
The statement, which covers Galveston, Brazoria, Chambers, Matagorda and Jackson counties, also advised against driving on beaches through today.
Riding the swell
Surfers also mobbed Galveston beaches to take advantage of waves that ranged from 5 to 6 feet early Wednesday morning, Galveston Beach Patrol Chief Peter Davis said.
"Everybody wants to come down and ride the hurricane swell," Davis said.
Storm swells usually produce near perfect waves for surfing, but a 15 mph wind made the waves choppy, he said.
"If it wasn't for this wind, it would be epic right now," said Davis, who also surfs.
The surf should be high again this morning, but slacken by noon and return to normal Friday, he said.
Strong rip tides near jetties accompanied the bigger surf, but the only incident reported was a surfer sent to the doctor after banging his leg with a surfboard, Davis said.
Jim Vickery, 56, of Austin, said walking out the jetty to jump into the surf at Surfside is much easier than trying to paddle against the waves. "It's easier on these older bodies," he said with a smile.
"You have to learn to keep away from the rocks," Vickery said.
He and Mason Glasscock, a student at Austin Community College, were putting up a sunshade to provide a refuge from the summer sun as they rested in between surfing sessions.
Big waves
Texas surfers have long known that tropical storms bring the kinds of waves they like, Vickery said. He predicted that the waves will increase to 6- to 8-foot today.
"This is the best surf we've had in a long time," Vickery said. "Last year there weren't any storms."
About two dozen dedicated surfers were braving the turgid waves Wednesday morning. Larry LeGros, 53, who drove four hours from Waco to hit the waves, predicted many more will be there by today. The weather service advisory is scheduled to last until 6 p.m. today.
He stood on a second-story deck at Surfside Jetty County Park and used binoculars to watch friends as they rode the waves.
Beach erosion
Elsewhere along Surfside Beach, visitors were sparse as the high tides brought the water almost to the dunes.
Tides were expected to be up to 2 feet higher than normal.
The weather service warned that the storm may cause some beach erosion.
Except for the surf, there was no indication that a big storm was anywhere in the Gulf. Puffy clouds floated through blue skies and the usual beach breeze wasn't enough to drive away the August heat.
LeGros said he and Walker plan to come back each day for about three days, driving back and forth from the north side of Houston to enjoy the rare surf.
"You don't mind driving when it's the love of your life," he said.
by:Richard Stewart
Houston Chronicle reporter Harvey Rice contributed to this report.
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| Comments | |
ByMalok @
Friday, August 31, 2007 12:44 AM | |
I'm so envious! I really enjoy surfing and I'm stuck up here in Kentucky. Only major water we have is the Ohio River. Not going to do much surfing on a river. Catch a wave for me. :)
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By
Non-surfer @
Wednesday, March 12, 2008 1:33 AM | |
Surfing is such a passion thing. Have you ever looked in the eyes of a surfer. If you have you have seen it. While out there on the water just waiting for the swell and then the wave to take them in. It must be something that just cannot be explained. I have only exiperienced it only what they show as they come to shore. It so shows!!! |
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