Forecasters at the National Weather Service are warning of dangerous conditions at a number of beaches along the coast due to rip currents and high surf.
The weather service issued a coastal hazard message warning that “dangerous rip currents” are expected at beaches in parts of Essex and Plymouth counties, as well as Barnstable County on Cape Cod, Dukes County on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. The rip currents can “sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” forecasters wrote.
Forecasters say anyone going to a beach on Thursday in those areas should swim near a lifeguard. Anyone who gets caught in a rip current should “relax and float” rather than swim against the current, according to the weather service.
If possible, swimmers should swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, swimmers should face the shore and call or wave for help, forecasters wrote.
Forecasters also warned of high surf and large breaking waves that could cause “dangerous swimming and surfing conditions.”
