Alert archive / Massachusetts / Rip Current Statements in 2026
Rip Current Statement 8, NWS Boston/Norton, MA
NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued this rip current statement at Aug 17, 2026, 2:17 AM EDT for Dukes County, Nantucket County, Massachusetts; Newport County, Washington County, Rhode Island. It took effect at Aug 17, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT. It was in force for 12 hr.
The area
The counties it named.
The facts
- Issued
- Aug 17, 2026, 2:17 AM EDT (06:17 UTC)
- In effect from
- Aug 17, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT
- Expired
- Aug 17, 2026, 8:00 PM EDT
- In force
- 12 hr
- Issued by
- NWS Boston/Norton, MA
Counties Dukes County, MA, Nantucket County, MA, Newport County, RI, Washington County, RI
The radar
The Boston radar (KBOX), 66 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 06:16 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
Brookhaven, NY (KOKX), launched 00:00Z, 6.3 hours before the alert went out and 174 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.
- Mixed-layer CAPE
- 28 J/kg
- Mixed-layer CIN
- -2 J/kg
- Mixed-layer LCL
- 851 m above ground
- 0-6 km bulk shear
- 24 kt
- 0-1 km storm-relative helicity
- 38 m²/s²
- 0-3 km storm-relative helicity
- 63 m²/s²
- Significant tornado parameter
- 0.0
- Supercell composite
- 0.0
The text
As transmitted.
012 WHUS41 KBOX 170617 CFWBOX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 217 AM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 MAZ023-024-RIZ006>008-180000- /O.NEW.KBOX.RP.S.0008.260817T1200Z-260818T0000Z/ Dukes MA-Nantucket MA-Washington RI-Newport RI-Block Island RI- 217 AM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING... * WHAT...A High Risk for rip currents is in effect for south- facing ocean beaches. * WHERE...Washington, Dukes MA, Nantucket MA, and Newport RI Counties. * WHEN...From 8 AM EDT this morning through this evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. Those heading to the beach should remain aware of local conditions and check with lifeguards or beach staff regarding rip current risks at their specific location. && $$ Dooley
1 follow-up statement
836 WHUS41 KBOX 171750 CFWBOX Coastal Hazard Message National Weather Service Boston/Norton MA 150 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 MAZ024-180700- /O.NEW.KBOX.RP.S.0009.260818T1200Z-260819T0000Z/ /O.CON.KBOX.RP.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260818T0000Z/ Nantucket MA- 150 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...For the first High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents. For the second High Rip Current Risk, dangerous rip currents expected. * WHERE...Nantucket MA County. * WHEN...For the first High Rip Current Risk, until 8 PM EDT this evening. For the second High Rip Current Risk, from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. && $$ MAZ007-015-016-019-022-180700- /O.NEW.KBOX.RP.S.0009.260818T1200Z-260819T0000Z/ Eastern Essex MA-Suffolk MA-Eastern Norfolk MA- Eastern Plymouth MA-Barnstable MA- 150 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents expected. * WHERE...Eastern Essex MA, Suffolk MA, Eastern Norfolk MA, Eastern Plymouth MA and Barnstable MA Counties. * WHEN...From Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. && $$ MAZ023-RIZ006>008-180000- /O.CON.KBOX.RP.S.0008.000000T0000Z-260818T0000Z/ Dukes MA-Washington RI-Newport RI-Block Island RI- 150 PM EDT Mon Aug 17 2026 ...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Dangerous rip currents. * WHERE...Washington, Dukes MA, and Newport RI Counties. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Swim near a lifeguard. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don't swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help. && $$
The office that day
Everything else NWS Boston/Norton, MA issued on the same UTC day.
| Issued | Product | Office | Counties | Lasted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 17, 1:50 PM EDT | Rip Current Statement | BOX | Barnstable, Essex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk | 30 hr |
Nearby
Rip Current Statements in Massachusetts, 2026Rip Current Statements in Rhode Island, 2026Every rip current statement in 2026
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.