The National Weather Service (NWS) in Boston has issued a rip current warning for most Massachusetts beaches, including those along Cape Cod and the islands, beginning early Sunday morning and extending through the evening, with hazardous conditions potentially lasting into Labor Day. The advisory applies to east-facing shorelines starting at 2 a.m. Sunday and is expected to remain in effect until at least 8 p.m.

Bryce Williams, a meteorologist with NWS Boston, emphasized that the heightened risk coincides with the holiday weekend, a period when many residents and visitors are likely to visit the coast. He urged beachgoers to exercise caution when entering the water. The warning encompasses much of Eastern Massachusetts’ coastline, including Cape Cod and the surrounding islands, although the inner bay areas generally face a reduced threat. Williams clarified that the warning map may give the impression that both sides of Cape Cod are affected due to the highlighting of entire counties.

Rip currents, often confused with riptides or undertows, are powerful, narrow channels of water moving swiftly away from shore through the breaker zone where waves break. These currents do not pull swimmers underwater but can carry them away from the beach, creating dangerous situations. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides guidance on recognizing and responding to these conditions.

This alert comes in the wake of recent fatal incidents involving rip currents in Massachusetts. An 81-year-old woman from New York drowned after encountering a possible rip current near Herring Cove in Provincetown, and a 55-year-old man from Cambridge died off Martha’s Vineyard’s Long Point Wildlife Refuge after entering the water to assist his children caught in a current.

Safety advice for those caught in rip currents includes remaining calm and avoiding attempts to swim directly back to shore, which can be exhausting and ineffective. Instead, swimmers should move parallel to the shoreline to escape the current and then swim toward the beach. If unable to swim, floating or treading water and signaling for help is recommended.

Observers witnessing someone in distress are cautioned against entering the water to assist unless properly trained and equipped with flotation devices. It is advised to alert lifeguards or contact emergency services promptly and, where possible, provide the person with a floating object to aid their rescue. Beach visitors are also encouraged to consult with local lifeguards or beach personnel for updated safety information before entering the water.