Alert archive / Massachusetts / High Surf Advisories in 2012

High Surf Advisory 2, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

September 4, 20124 counties in Massachusetts; Newport County, Washington County, Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this high surf advisory at Sep 4, 2012, 4:40 PM EDT for 4 counties in Massachusetts; Newport County, Washington County, Rhode Island. It took effect at Sep 5, 2012, 6:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 22 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 4, 2012, 4:40 PM EDT (20:40 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 5, 2012, 6:00 AM EDT
Expired
Sep 6, 2012, 4:04 AM EDT
In force
22 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

Counties Barnstable County, MA, Bristol County, MA, Dukes County, MA, Nantucket County, MA, Newport County, RI, Washington County, RI

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 57 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:40 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

The nearest sounding before it

Chatham, MA (KCHH), launched 12:00Z, 8.7 hours before the alert went out and 74 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-pSkew-T log-p diagram, Chatham, MA at 12:00Z on 2012-09-04Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 0 joules per kilogram.LCL10008507005003002001001 km2 km3 km6 km9 km12 km15 km-30°-20°-10°10°20°30°40°
Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.
HodographHodograph, Chatham, MA at 12:00Z on 2012-09-04The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity 47 square meters per square second.1939Sfc1 km3 km6 km9 kmRMLM
The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.
Mixed-layer CAPE
0 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
No buoyant parcel
Mixed-layer LCL
767 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
20 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
47 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
149 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter
0.0
Supercell composite
0.0

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted, in the capitals the NWS used until 2016.

077 
WHUS41 KBOX 042040
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
440 PM EDT TUE SEP 4 2012

...HIGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED ALONG THE SOUTH COASTS OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND THROUGH THURSDAY...

.INCREASING SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST SWELLS FROM DISTANT TROPICAL STORM
LESLIE WILL CAUSE HIGH SURF TO MOVE INTO THE SOUTH FACING BEACHES OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. THE HIGHEST SWELLS WILL MOVE INTO
THE COAST WEDNESDAY MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST
THURSDAY...AND LIKELY LONGER UNTIL LESLIE PASSES NEW ENGLAND. 

MAZ020-022>024-RIZ006>008-050445-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SU.Y.0002.120905T1000Z-120906T1000Z/
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
440 PM EDT TUE SEP 4 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM EDT
THURSDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM EDT
THURSDAY. 

* WAVES AND SURF...5 TO 8 FEET.

* TIMING...WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH SURF...RIP CURRENTS AND BEACH EROSION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RIP CURRENT...SOMETIMES MISTAKENLY CALLED AN UNDERTOW...IS A
STRONG BUT NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING FROM THE BEACH TO THE
SURF ZONE. IT CAN RAPIDLY CARRY A SWIMMER INTO DEEPER WATER AND
EXHAUST AN INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO SWIM AGAINST IT.

IF YOU ARE A POOR SWIMMER AND ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM
PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL OUT OF ITS PULL.  ANOTHER MEANS OF
ESCAPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOOD SWIMMERS IS TO RIDE THE CURRENT OUT
BEYOND THE SURF ZONE WHERE THE RIP CURRENT DISSIPATES...THEN SWIM
TOWARD SHORE OUTSIDE THE EFFECT OF THE NARROW RIP CURRENT.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE
CURRENT...IT CAN EXHAUST AND DROWN EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER.

HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL AND SWIM ONLY AT GUARDED
BEACHES.  WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS NEAR PIERS
AND JETTIES WHERE RIP CURRENTS CAN BE ENHANCED.

IN ADDITION...VIEWERS OF LARGE SURF SHOULD BE IN SAFE AREAS WELL
AWAY FROM POSSIBLE SPLASH OVER. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE MORE THAN
TWICE THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT...WHICH CAN SWEEP A PERSON INTO
THE WATER FROM WHAT MAY SEEM TO BE A SAFE VIEWING AREA. FALLING
INTO THE TURBULENT AND SOMETIMES ROCKY WATERS CAN RESULT IN
INJURY THAT REDUCES THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

&&

$$

VALLIER-TALBOT
5 follow-up statements
418 
WHUS41 KBOX 050434
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1234 AM EDT WED SEP 5 2012

...HIGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED ALONG THE SOUTH COASTS OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND THROUGH THURSDAY...

.INCREASING SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST SWELLS FROM DISTANT TROPICAL
STORM LESLIE WILL CAUSE HIGH SURF TO MOVE INTO THE SOUTH FACING
BEACHES OF MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. THE HIGHEST SWELLS
WILL MOVE INTO THE COAST WEDNESDAY MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY...AND LIKELY LONGER UNTIL LESLIE PASSES
NEW ENGLAND.

MAZ020-022>024-RIZ006>008-051245-
/O.CON.KBOX.SU.Y.0002.120905T1000Z-120906T1000Z/
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
1234 AM EDT WED SEP 5 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM THIS MORNING TO
6 AM EDT THURSDAY...

* WAVES AND SURF...5 TO 8 FEET.

* TIMING...WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH SURF...RIP CURRENTS AND BEACH EROSION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RIP CURRENT...SOMETIMES MISTAKENLY CALLED AN UNDERTOW...IS A
STRONG BUT NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING FROM THE BEACH TO THE
SURF ZONE. IT CAN RAPIDLY CARRY A SWIMMER INTO DEEPER WATER AND
EXHAUST AN INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO SWIM AGAINST IT.

IF YOU ARE A POOR SWIMMER AND ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM
PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL OUT OF ITS PULL.  ANOTHER MEANS OF
ESCAPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOOD SWIMMERS IS TO RIDE THE CURRENT OUT
BEYOND THE SURF ZONE WHERE THE RIP CURRENT DISSIPATES...THEN SWIM
TOWARD SHORE OUTSIDE THE EFFECT OF THE NARROW RIP CURRENT.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE
CURRENT...IT CAN EXHAUST AND DROWN EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER.

HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL AND SWIM ONLY AT GUARDED
BEACHES.  WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS NEAR PIERS
AND JETTIES WHERE RIP CURRENTS CAN BE ENHANCED.

IN ADDITION...VIEWERS OF LARGE SURF SHOULD BE IN SAFE AREAS WELL
AWAY FROM POSSIBLE SPLASH OVER. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE MORE THAN
TWICE THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT...WHICH CAN SWEEP A PERSON INTO
THE WATER FROM WHAT MAY SEEM TO BE A SAFE VIEWING AREA. FALLING
INTO THE TURBULENT AND SOMETIMES ROCKY WATERS CAN RESULT IN
INJURY THAT REDUCES THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

&&

$$
311 
WHUS41 KBOX 050803
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
403 AM EDT WED SEP 5 2012

...HIGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED ALONG THE SOUTH COASTS OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND THROUGH THURSDAY...

.INCREASING SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST SWELLS FROM DISTANT TROPICAL
STORM LESLIE WILL CAUSE HIGH SURF TO MOVE INTO THE SOUTH FACING
BEACHES OF MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. THE HIGHEST SWELLS
WILL MOVE INTO THE COAST WEDNESDAY MORNING AND WILL CONTINUE
THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY...AND LIKELY LONGER UNTIL LESLIE PASSES
NEW ENGLAND.

MAZ020-022>024-RIZ006>008-051615-
/O.EXT.KBOX.SU.Y.0002.120905T1000Z-120906T2200Z/
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
403 AM EDT WED SEP 5 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THURSDAY...

* WAVES AND SURF...5 TO 8 FEET.

* TIMING...WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH SURF...RIP CURRENTS AND BEACH EROSION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RIP CURRENT...SOMETIMES MISTAKENLY CALLED AN UNDERTOW...IS A
STRONG BUT NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING FROM THE BEACH TO THE
SURF ZONE. IT CAN RAPIDLY CARRY A SWIMMER INTO DEEPER WATER AND
EXHAUST AN INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO SWIM AGAINST IT.

IF YOU ARE A POOR SWIMMER AND ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM
PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL OUT OF ITS PULL.  ANOTHER MEANS OF
ESCAPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOOD SWIMMERS IS TO RIDE THE CURRENT OUT
BEYOND THE SURF ZONE WHERE THE RIP CURRENT DISSIPATES...THEN SWIM
TOWARD SHORE OUTSIDE THE EFFECT OF THE NARROW RIP CURRENT.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE
CURRENT...IT CAN EXHAUST AND DROWN EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER.

HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL AND SWIM ONLY AT GUARDED
BEACHES.  WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS NEAR PIERS
AND JETTIES WHERE RIP CURRENTS CAN BE ENHANCED.

IN ADDITION...VIEWERS OF LARGE SURF SHOULD BE IN SAFE AREAS WELL
AWAY FROM POSSIBLE SPLASH OVER. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE MORE THAN
TWICE THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT...WHICH CAN SWEEP A PERSON INTO
THE WATER FROM WHAT MAY SEEM TO BE A SAFE VIEWING AREA. FALLING
INTO THE TURBULENT AND SOMETIMES ROCKY WATERS CAN RESULT IN
INJURY THAT REDUCES THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

&&

$$
618 
WHUS41 KBOX 052053
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
453 PM EDT WED SEP 5 2012

...HIGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED ALONG THE SOUTH COASTS OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND THROUGH THURSDAY...

.HIGH SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST SWELLS FROM DISTANT HURRICANE LESLIE WILL
CONTINUE TO BRING HIGH SURF INTO THE SOUTH FACING BEACHES OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. THE HIGHEST SWELLS WILL CONTINUE
ALONG THE COAST THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY...AND LIKELY LONGER
UNTIL LESLIE PASSES NEW ENGLAND.

MAZ020-022>024-RIZ006>008-060500-
/O.CON.KBOX.SU.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-120906T2200Z/
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
453 PM EDT WED SEP 5 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THURSDAY...

* WAVES AND SURF...5 TO 8 FEET.

* TIMING...TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH SURF...RIP CURRENTS AND BEACH EROSION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RIP CURRENT...SOMETIMES MISTAKENLY CALLED AN UNDERTOW...IS A
STRONG BUT NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING FROM THE BEACH TO THE
SURF ZONE. IT CAN RAPIDLY CARRY A SWIMMER INTO DEEPER WATER AND
EXHAUST AN INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO SWIM AGAINST IT.

IF YOU ARE A POOR SWIMMER AND ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM
PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL OUT OF ITS PULL.  ANOTHER MEANS OF
ESCAPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOOD SWIMMERS IS TO RIDE THE CURRENT OUT
BEYOND THE SURF ZONE WHERE THE RIP CURRENT DISSIPATES...THEN SWIM
TOWARD SHORE OUTSIDE THE EFFECT OF THE NARROW RIP CURRENT.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE
CURRENT...IT CAN EXHAUST AND DROWN EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER.

HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL AND SWIM ONLY AT GUARDED
BEACHES.  WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS NEAR PIERS
AND JETTIES WHERE RIP CURRENTS CAN BE ENHANCED.

IN ADDITION...VIEWERS OF LARGE SURF SHOULD BE IN SAFE AREAS WELL
AWAY FROM POSSIBLE SPLASH OVER. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE MORE THAN
TWICE THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT...WHICH CAN SWEEP A PERSON INTO
THE WATER FROM WHAT MAY SEEM TO BE A SAFE VIEWING AREA. FALLING
INTO THE TURBULENT AND SOMETIMES ROCKY WATERS CAN RESULT IN
INJURY THAT REDUCES THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

&&

$$

EVT
841 
WHUS41 KBOX 060441
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1241 AM EDT THU SEP 6 2012

...HIGH SURF AND RIP CURRENTS EXPECTED ALONG THE SOUTH COASTS OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND THROUGH THURSDAY...

.HIGH SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST SWELLS FROM DISTANT HURRICANE LESLIE
WILL CONTINUE TO BRING HIGH SURF INTO THE SOUTH FACING BEACHES OF
MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND. THE HIGHEST SWELLS WILL CONTINUE
ALONG THE COAST THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY...AND LIKELY LONGER
UNTIL LESLIE PASSES NEW ENGLAND.

MAZ020-022>024-RIZ006>008-061245-
/O.CON.KBOX.SU.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-120906T2200Z/
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
1241 AM EDT THU SEP 6 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* WAVES AND SURF...5 TO 8 FEET.

* TIMING...TONIGHT AND THURSDAY.

* IMPACTS...HIGH SURF...RIP CURRENTS AND BEACH EROSION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A RIP CURRENT...SOMETIMES MISTAKENLY CALLED AN UNDERTOW...IS A
STRONG BUT NARROW CURRENT OF WATER FLOWING FROM THE BEACH TO THE
SURF ZONE. IT CAN RAPIDLY CARRY A SWIMMER INTO DEEPER WATER AND
EXHAUST AN INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO SWIM AGAINST IT.

IF YOU ARE A POOR SWIMMER AND ARE CAUGHT IN A RIP CURRENT...SWIM
PARALLEL TO THE BEACH UNTIL OUT OF ITS PULL.  ANOTHER MEANS OF
ESCAPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOOD SWIMMERS IS TO RIDE THE CURRENT OUT
BEYOND THE SURF ZONE WHERE THE RIP CURRENT DISSIPATES...THEN SWIM
TOWARD SHORE OUTSIDE THE EFFECT OF THE NARROW RIP CURRENT.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SWIM BACK TO SHORE DIRECTLY AGAINST THE
CURRENT...IT CAN EXHAUST AND DROWN EVEN THE STRONGEST SWIMMER.

HEED THE ADVICE OF THE BEACH PATROL AND SWIM ONLY AT GUARDED
BEACHES.  WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.  BE ESPECIALLY CAUTIOUS NEAR PIERS
AND JETTIES WHERE RIP CURRENTS CAN BE ENHANCED.

IN ADDITION...VIEWERS OF LARGE SURF SHOULD BE IN SAFE AREAS WELL
AWAY FROM POSSIBLE SPLASH OVER. INDIVIDUAL WAVES MAY BE MORE THAN
TWICE THE SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT...WHICH CAN SWEEP A PERSON INTO
THE WATER FROM WHAT MAY SEEM TO BE A SAFE VIEWING AREA. FALLING
INTO THE TURBULENT AND SOMETIMES ROCKY WATERS CAN RESULT IN
INJURY THAT REDUCES THE CHANCE OF SURVIVAL.

&&

$$

SIPPRELL
299 
WHUS41 KBOX 060804
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
404 AM EDT THU SEP 6 2012

MAZ020-022>024-RIZ006>008-060915-
/O.CAN.KBOX.SU.Y.0002.000000T0000Z-120906T2200Z/
SOUTHERN BRISTOL MA-BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-
WASHINGTON RI-NEWPORT RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
404 AM EDT THU SEP 6 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS CANCELLED THE HIGH
SURF ADVISORY.

$$

SIPPRELL

The office that day

Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 4, 4:15 PM EDTSmall Craft AdvisoryBOX32 hr
Sep 4, 12:19 PM EDTAreal Flood AdvisoryBOXBristol, Kent, Newport, Providence, Washington3 hr

Nearby

High Surf Advisories in Massachusetts, 2012High Surf Advisories in Rhode Island, 2012Every high surf advisory in 2012

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.