National Weather Service Issues Rip Current Warning for Massachusetts Coastline
The National Weather Service (NWS) in Boston has issued a high-risk rip current warning for most Massachusetts beaches, including Cape Cod and the Islands, effective from 2 a.m. Sunday through 8 p.m., with potential continuation into Labor Day. This warning specifically targets east-facing beaches. Ken Mahan, the Globe’s lead meteorologist, clarified that rip currents are powerful, narrow channels of water that pull swimmers away from shore, not underwater. Bryce Williams, an NWS Boston meteorologist, emphasized the importance of precautions, especially given the holiday weekend. The warning comes weeks after an 81-year-old New York woman died in a possible rip current off Herring Cove in Provincetown, and a 55-year-old Cambridge man died attempting to rescue his children from a rip current off Martha's Vineyard. Beachgoers are advised to consult lifeguards and beach staff before entering the water. If caught in a rip current, experts recommend swimming parallel to the shoreline until free, then heading to...