Alert archive / Massachusetts / High Surf Advisories in 2012

High Surf Advisory 4, NWS Boston/Norton, MA

September 15, 2012Barnstable County, Dukes County, Nantucket County, Massachusetts; Washington County, Rhode Island

NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this high surf advisory at Sep 15, 2012, 4:32 PM EDT for Barnstable County, Dukes County, Nantucket County, Massachusetts; Washington County, Rhode Island. It took effect at Sep 16, 2012, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 12 hr.

The area

The counties it named.

The facts

Issued
Sep 15, 2012, 4:32 PM EDT (20:32 UTC)
In effect from
Sep 16, 2012, 8:00 AM EDT
Expired
Sep 16, 2012, 8:00 PM EDT
In force
12 hr
Issued by
NWS Boston/Norton, MA

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

The radar

The Boston radar (KBOX), 70 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 20:36 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, 8.5 hours before the alert went out and 63 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 2012-09-15Temperature and dew point through the depth of the atmosphere, with the mixed-layer parcel. CAPE 171 joules per kilogram.LCLLFCEL10008507005003002001001 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 2012-09-15The wind through the lowest 10 kilometers. Zero to 1 km storm-relative helicity -6 square meters per square second.19395878Sfc1 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
171 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN
-2 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL
645 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear
36 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity
-6 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity
68 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.

439 
WHUS41 KBOX 152032
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
432 PM EDT SAT SEP 15 2012

...HIGH SURF EXPECTED ON SUNDAY ALONG SOME EXPOSED OCEAN
BEACHES...

.SWELLS FROM HURRICANE NADINE WILL CAUSE LARGE BREAKERS ACROSS
SOME EAST AND SOUTH FACING BEACHES ON SUNDAY. SINCE NADINE HAS
RECURVED AND IS NOW HEADING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE EASTERN
ATLANTIC...THE SWELLS AND ACCOMPANYING HIGH SURF SHOULD SUBSIDE
SUNDAY NIGHT.

MAZ022>024-RIZ006-008-160445-
/O.NEW.KBOX.SU.Y.0004.120916T1200Z-120917T0000Z/
BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-WASHINGTON RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
432 PM EDT SAT SEP 15 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM EDT SUNDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN TAUNTON HAS ISSUED A HIGH SURF
ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM TO 8 PM EDT SUNDAY.

* LOCATION...OCEAN EXPOSED BEACHES ON CAPE COD...NANTUCKET...SOUTH
  SIDE OF MARTHAS VINEYARD...BLOCK ISLAND AND WASHINGTON COUNTY RI.

* SURF HEIGHT...GENERALLY 7 TO 10 FEET.

* TIMING...DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS ON SUNDAY.

* IMPACTS...ROUGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS FOR BEACH GOERS.

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.

&&

$$

THOMPSON
4 follow-up statements
382 
WHUS41 KBOX 160455
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1255 AM EDT SUN SEP 16 2012

...HIGH SURF EXPECTED ON SUNDAY ALONG SOME EXPOSED OCEAN
BEACHES...

.SWELLS FROM HURRICANE NADINE WILL CAUSE LARGE BREAKERS ACROSS
SOME EAST AND SOUTH FACING BEACHES ON SUNDAY. SINCE NADINE HAS
RECURVED AND IS NOW HEADING RAPIDLY TOWARD THE EASTERN ATLANTIC...
THE SWELLS AND ACCOMPANYING HIGH SURF SHOULD SUBSIDE SUNDAY
NIGHT.

MAZ022>024-RIZ006-008-160830-
/O.CON.KBOX.SU.Y.0004.120916T1200Z-120917T0000Z/
BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-WASHINGTON RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
1255 AM EDT SUN SEP 16 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

* LOCATION...OCEAN EXPOSED BEACHES ON CAPE COD...NANTUCKET...
SOUTH SIDE OF MARTHAS VINEYARD...BLOCK ISLAND AND WASHINGTON
COUNTY RI.

* SURF HEIGHT...GENERALLY 7 TO 10 FEET.

* TIMING...DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS ON SUNDAY.

* IMPACTS...ROUGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS FOR BEACH
GOERS.

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.

&&

$$
310 
WHUS41 KBOX 160810
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
410 AM EDT SUN SEP 16 2012

...HIGH SURF TODAY ALONG EXPOSED OCEAN BEACHES...

.SWELLS FROM HURRICANE NADINE WILL CAUSE LARGE BREAKERS ACROSS
EAST AND SOUTH FACING BEACHES TODAY. SINCE NADINE IS NO LONGER ON
A NORTHWEST TRACK TOWARD NEW ENGLAND...THE SWELLS AND ACCOMPANYING
HIGH SURF SHOULD BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TONIGHT.

MAZ022>024-RIZ006-008-161615-
/O.CON.KBOX.SU.Y.0004.120916T1200Z-120917T0000Z/
BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-WASHINGTON RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
410 AM EDT SUN SEP 16 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM THIS MORNING TO
8 PM EDT THIS EVENING...

* LOCATION...OCEAN EXPOSED BEACHES ON CAPE COD...NANTUCKET...
SOUTH SIDE OF MARTHAS VINEYARD...BLOCK ISLAND AND WASHINGTON
COUNTY RI.

* SURF HEIGHT...GENERALLY 7 TO 10 FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...ROUGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS FOR BEACH GOERS.
  IN ADDITION...VIEWERS OF LARGE SURF SHOULD BE IN SAFE AREAS WELL
  AWAY FROM POSSIBLE BREAKING WAVES. 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.

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.

&&

$$
324 
WHUS41 KBOX 161447
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
1047 AM EDT SUN SEP 16 2012

...HIGH SURF TODAY ALONG EXPOSED OCEAN BEACHES...

.SWELLS FROM HURRICANE NADINE WILL CAUSE LARGE BREAKERS ACROSS
EAST AND SOUTH FACING BEACHES TODAY. SINCE NADINE IS NO LONGER ON
A NORTHWEST TRACK TOWARD NEW ENGLAND...THE SWELLS AND
ACCOMPANYING HIGH SURF SHOULD BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TONIGHT.

MAZ022>024-RIZ006-008-162300-
/O.CON.KBOX.SU.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-120917T0000Z/
BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-WASHINGTON RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
1047 AM EDT SUN SEP 16 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* LOCATION...OCEAN EXPOSED BEACHES ON CAPE COD...NANTUCKET...
SOUTH SIDE OF MARTHAS VINEYARD...BLOCK ISLAND AND WASHINGTON
COUNTY RI.

* SURF HEIGHT...GENERALLY 5 TO 9 FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...ROUGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS FOR BEACH
GOERS. IN ADDITION...VIEWERS OF LARGE SURF SHOULD BE IN SAFE
AREAS WELL AWAY FROM POSSIBLE BREAKING WAVES. 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.

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.

&&

$$
150 
WHUS41 KBOX 162303
CFWBOX

COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
703 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2012

...HIGH SURF TODAY ALONG EXPOSED OCEAN BEACHES...

.SWELLS FROM HURRICANE NADINE WILL CAUSE LARGE BREAKERS ACROSS
EAST AND SOUTH FACING BEACHES TODAY. SINCE NADINE IS NO LONGER ON
A NORTHWEST TRACK TOWARD NEW ENGLAND...THE SWELLS AND
ACCOMPANYING HIGH SURF SHOULD BEGIN TO SUBSIDE TONIGHT.

MAZ022>024-RIZ006-008-170015-
/O.CON.KBOX.SU.Y.0004.000000T0000Z-120917T0000Z/
BARNSTABLE MA-DUKES MA-NANTUCKET MA-WASHINGTON RI-BLOCK ISLAND RI-
703 PM EDT SUN SEP 16 2012

...HIGH SURF ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS
EVENING...

* LOCATION...OCEAN EXPOSED BEACHES ON CAPE COD...NANTUCKET...
SOUTH SIDE OF MARTHAS VINEYARD...BLOCK ISLAND AND WASHINGTON
COUNTY RI.

* SURF HEIGHT...GENERALLY 5 TO 9 FEET.

* TIMING...THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING.

* IMPACTS...ROUGH SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS FOR BEACH
GOERS. IN ADDITION...VIEWERS OF LARGE SURF SHOULD BE IN SAFE
AREAS WELL AWAY FROM POSSIBLE BREAKING WAVES. 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.

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.

&&

$$

RLG

The office that day

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

IssuedProductOfficeCountiesLasted
Sep 15, 4:37 PM EDTSmall Craft Advisory for Hazardous SeasBOX24 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.