Packery Channel Storm History
The stability of Packery Channel has been challenged by storm indundation since 2005 when Hurricane Emily opened the channel to the Gulf of Mexico during construction. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita followed later in the summer serving to interrupt related beach nourishment activities. Despite the impact of these storms during construction and more recently during Hurricane Ike (2008), Packery Channel has remained open and navigable. Dredging was scheduled 6 years after completion (7 years after opening in 2005). This maintenance dredge, conducted during the Winter of 2012 and 2013, served not only to deepen the primary channel from the basin to the Gulf but also to supply much needed sand for the nourishment of the narrow beach fronting the seawall.
Packery Channel Storm History
| Name | Date | Category & Wind Speed | Landfall Location | Packery Observations | Water Level | Currents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bret | June 28-29, 2005 | TS (40 mph) | Tuxpan, MX | None | ||
| Emily | July 11-21, 2005 | 3 (155 mph) | Yucatan Peninsula, MX | Channel Mouth Opened | This TCOON station is located just east of the GIWW intersection in Packery Channel. Plot shows primary water level in feet above MSL. Peak water level observed between July 20 and 21 2005 at 1.5 ft MSL. | |
| Katrina | August 23-31, 2005 | 4 (175 mph) | Louisiana, USA | Channel Mouth Remains Open | The Packery Channel water level station is located just east of the GIWW intersection in Packery Channel. The Bob Hall water level station is located on the Gulf of Mexico approximately 1 mile south of Packery Channel. The primary water level at both stations in feet above MSL. Peak water level observed during Katrina was observed between August 28-31 at 1.0 ft MSL (Packery) and 2.0 ft MSL (Bob Hall Pier). Note difference in impact on rise in water level between Rita and Katrina (peak: September 24 to 26 2005). | |
| Rita | September 18-26, 2005 | 4 (175 mph) | Louisiana, USA | Channel mouth remains open | The Packery Channel water level station is located just east of the GIWW intersection in Packery Channel. The Bob Hall water level station is located on the Gulf of Mexico approximately 1 mile south of Packery Channel. The water level at both stations in feet above MSL. Peak water level observed during Rita was observed between September 24 and 26 2005 at 2.25 ft MSL (Packery) and 4.0 ft MSL (Bob Hall Pier). Difference in impact on rise in water level between Rita and Katrina (peak August 28-31). | |
| Erin | August 15-19, 2007 | TS (40 mph) | Just south of Rockport TX | |||
| Humberto | September 12-14, 2007 | 1 (90 mph) | McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, TX | |||
| Dolly | July 20-27, 2008 | 2 | North of South Padre Island, TX | |||
| Ike | September 13, 2008 | 4 (145 mph or 230 km/h) | Galveston, TX 2:10 am | Water flowed over low elevation jetties providing for transport of sand directly from the adjacent beach into the entrance channel causing shoaling. Widespread beach erosion and shoreline recession. | Peak water level at Bob Hall Pier was 4.5 ft (MSL). Water level sustained in excess of 3 ft (MSL) for almost 24 hours from 9/12 to 9/14. | Please see the CBI Data Querypage for current information. |
| Two | July 4-8, 2010 | TD (35 mph) | South Padre Island, TX | |||
| Hermine | September 4-10, 2010 | TS (70 mph) | Brownsville, TX | |||
| Don | July 27-30, 2011 | TS (50 mph) | Baffin Bay, TX | |||
| Bill | June 16-21, 2015 | TS (60 mph) | Matagorda Island, TX | |||
| Joaquin | September 26 - October 5, 2015 | 4 (155 mph) | Never made landfall, turned back into the Atlantic Ocean after hitting the Bahamas. | |||
| Harvey | August 24 - August 30, 2017 | 4 (130mph) | Rockport, TX | Peak water level at Bob Hall Pier was 4.24 ft (MSL). Water level sustained in excess of 2 ft (MSL) for just over 13 hrs. | ||
| Irma | August 30 - September 13, 2017 | 5 (180mph) | Caribbean as a Category 5 then in Florida as a Category 3 | |||
| Nate | October 4 - 11, 2017 | 1 (90mph) | Louisiana/Mississippi border |