Coastal alerts have been issued warning of dangerous rip currents and high surf along the shore of New England — from Maine to Rhode Island — and the islands through Saturday.
The rip current alert is in effect until 8 p.m., Saturday for Mass., Rhode Island and Martha’s Vineyard, while the high surf advisory includes Cape Cod and Nantucket for the same period and extends along the shore through upstate Maine, according to the National Weather Service in Norton.
Wave heights could reach 6 to 10 feet. With the center of an offshore low becoming better organized, wind along the New England coast will pick up. Boston may see wind speeds between 10 and 15 miles per hour today, while the Cape may reach closer to 20 miles per hour at times. This will create increasingly high surf as the day goes on, with building rip currents heading into Saturday.
“If heading to the beach Saturday, be alert for rough surf and dangerous rip currents,” the Weather Service advised Friday afternoon. “Be especially cautious along east-facing beaches, and those not staffed by lifeguards. When in doubt, don’t go out.”
A rip current is a powerful, narrow channel of water flowing away from the beach and often extending through the breaker zone where waves form. They can emerge on sunny or overcast days, and can quickly sweep even the strongest swimmer out to sea. If you are caught in a rip current, don’t fight it. Rather, swim out with the current, then parallel to the shoreline before turning back toward the coast.
“Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,” the Weather Service warned in its advisories.
Marianne Mizera can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her @MareMizera. Ken Mahan can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.
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