Galveston Water Was Unusually Clear, Blue for Holiday

Galveston’s water at the beach, usually muddy and brown in May, was blue and clear for the Memorial Day holiday this year due to a temporary change in ocean currents that pushed water from the Gulf of Mexico to the coast.

Residents and visitors turned out in large numbers to take advantage of the unexpected phenomenon rather than the usual muddy runoff from rivers that drain to the coastline, The Weather Channel reported.

Some who observed the surrounding weather patterns thought Subtropical Storm Alberto might have caused the clear conditions, but the current came from the southwest, which is a different direction than Alberto, according to The Weather Channel.

Derek Giardino of the West Gulf River Forecast Center said Alberto may have caused the water to be pushed toward the Gulf Coast when the storm shifted, however, Click 2 Houston reported.

Whatever caused the conditions, Galveston residents and visitors posted about the phenomenon on Twitter and soaked it up the beautiful water while it lasted. 

This is not a drill the water at Galveston is clear and the sand is white ! pic.twitter.com/lhuZ3fEe0l

— Jordan Murray (@_Jmurray10) May 31, 2018

Some neighborhood association put blue dye in the water in Galveston pic.twitter.com/sH6IoBKK4U

— ©am (@CamHolmes50) May 26, 2018

so we won world series, had snow and now galveston water is clear .... what a year for us man houston is living its best life https://t.co/Lm0j2hvUNH

— brea’ (@brearauhl) May 31, 2018

Unfortunately, the clear water didn’t last. By Wednesday, it was back to its usual brown, The Weather Channel reported.

• Subtropical Storm Alberto Swirls Toward Gulf
• Lake Tahoma Dam OK After Alberto Triggers Mudslides, Evacuations