Buoy Named Kevin Drifts Off Texas Coast
NOAA's temperature-tracking buoy Kevin, dislodged from its Gulf platform about two weeks ago, is drifting south toward Port Isabel.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Current Conditions
NOAA's National Ocean Service reported that Kevin, a temperature-tracking Sofar spotter buoy, is missing off the Texas coast after becoming dislodged from its platform in the West Flower Garden Bank roughly two weeks ago. As of Wednesday morning, Kevin was located in the Gulf near Port Isabel, near the tip of Texas' border with Mexico.
Why it matters
Kevin's drift matters to researchers who rely on these buoys to monitor ocean temperatures in the Gulf. Its GPS beacon remains active, allowing its path to be tracked as it moves south.
The buoy's GPS beacon provides real-time positional data, placing Kevin in the Gulf near Port Isabel as of Wednesday morning. Its eventual destination and recovery prospects remain unknown.
The players
NOAA National Ocean Service
The federal agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that reported Kevin missing and oversees the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
A protected marine area lying 80 to 125 miles offshore that includes 17 reefs and banks and serves as the buoys' home base.
The details
Kevin is a temperature-tracking Sofar spotter buoy named after a character from the Minions movie series, housed in the West Flower Garden Bank off Galveston. Its companion buoy, Bob, remains intact in the East Flower Garden Bank, where Hurricane Francine dislodged Bob in 2024.
Timeline
2024: Hurricane Francine dislodged the companion buoy Bob from the East Flower Garden Bank.
About two weeks before publication: Kevin became dislodged from its platform and began drifting south.
Wednesday morning: Kevin was located in the Gulf near Port Isabel.
Seasonal Patterns
The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, which sits 80 to 125 miles offshore, is where Kevin was deployed to monitor Gulf conditions. Kevin's displacement by Hurricane Francine in 2024 echoes the storm-driven losses of monitoring equipment that the sanctuary has faced.
Anyone can track Sofar spotter buoys through the Sofar dashboard to follow Kevin's movements. Residents along the Texas coast near Port Isabel should be aware of the buoy's presence in case it comes ashore.
The takeaway
Kevin's drift shows how the Gulf's ocean monitoring network relies on equipment that can be displaced by storms, and how public tracking tools let anyone follow it. Following the buoy's GPS path offers a direct way to see the Gulf's currents in action.
Further reading
For ongoing updates on the Gulf's conditions, see Current Conditions in Texas.
