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For immediate release: Sept. 23, 2005-AM Update
Hurricane Rita is expected to make landfall early Saturday morning along the upper Texas coast creating some hazardous weather for deep South Texas.
Swells as a result of the hurricane are currently causing coastal flooding along South Padre Island and Boca Chica beaches. A coastal flood warning and high surf advisory is in effect for the Town of South Padre Island, Port Isabel, Laguna Vista and Laguna Heights.
South Padre Island’s beaches are closed, and residents should heed all warnings due to the dangerous surf conditions with deadly rip currents.
According to the National Weather Service, the combination of high tide at 3 feet above sea level and increasing long period swells from Rita will cause sea water to flood the beaches and dunes on the Island. Furthermore, the large amount of water being forced into the lower Texas coast will cause flooding of beaches and beach access roads through Saturday with considerable beach erosion occurring.
SPI is no longer under a tropical storm watch, but winds near tropical storm force may brush the lower Texas coast today.
Storm updates are available on the South Padre Island Emergency Management Web site at www.townspi.com, and click on the Emergency Management link.
For additional information, call Melissa Zamora, Town of South Padre Island deputy public information officer, (956) 761-3005 or (956) 433-1231, or Dan Quandt, public information officer, (956) 761-3005 or (956) 433-9720.
Melissa A. Zamora
Communications Coordinator
Town of South Padre Island
(956) 761-3005
(956) 433-1231 (cell)
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