Washington Area Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

MaineNear Jonesport, Washington CountyNWS zone MEZ030NWS Caribou, ME

Rip current risk today: Low. Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard.

water 53 degrees. Buoy CFWM1, 14 mi out, measured 54 °F water. Sunset 6:25 PM.

Rip current risk: LowToday
Water: 53 degreesForecast
Sunset: 6:25 PMEDT

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Washington Area Beaches. Open it for the live map, where it pans and zooms.

Open the live map with rip current risk

Map layer from NOAA National Weather Service surf zone forecasts. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Alerts in force

No beach hazards statement, high surf advisory or other warning is in force for Washington Area Beaches. Those are the products a coastal office issues when the water turns dangerous. When one is issued it appears here and on the alerts page for this area.

Today and tomorrow

From the National Weather Service beach forecast, issued 246 AM EDT, 9/23/2026.

Today Today

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Water temperature: 53 degrees
UV index: Moderate
High temperature: In the mid 50s
Weather: Sunny
Wind: Northeast winds around 5 mph
Thunderstorms: None

UV index 3 to 5. Cover up and stay in the shade near midday.

Tomorrow Thursday

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
High temperature: In the upper 50s
Weather: Sunny
Wind: Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming east in the afternoon
Thunderstorms: None

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Coastal Washington. Issued 2:46 AM EDT on Wed, Sep 23 by the National Weather Service in Caribou, ME.

Today

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf: Around 1 foot
Thunderstorm Potential: None
UV Index: Moderate
Water Temperature: 53 degrees. According to the USCG, when the water temperature is below 60 degrees, the average submerged person could lose dexterity within minutes and be unable to accomplish simple tasks like buckling a life jacket or operating a radio
Weather: Sunny
High Temperature: In the mid 50s
Winds: Northeast winds around 5 mph
Tides, Roque Bluffs: High 11.1 feet (MLLW) 09:04 AM EDT. Low 1.5 feet (MLLW) 03:09 PM EDT

Thursday

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf: Around 1 foot
Thunderstorm Potential: None
Weather: Sunny
High Temperature: In the upper 50s
Winds: Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming east in the afternoon
Tides, Roque Bluffs: High 11.7 feet (MLLW) 09:48 AM EDT. Low 0.9 feet (MLLW) 03:54 PM EDT

Friday

Surf height around 2 feet. Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s. Northeast winds around 15 mph.

Saturday

Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain. Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 20 mph.

Sunday

Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers likely. Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 20 mph.

The office's notes on this forecast

Rip Current Risk Category * Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however, life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins, jetties, reefs, and piers. * Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the surf zone. * High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf zone.

** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see: https://www.weather.gov/beach/car

The product as issued

FZUS51 KCAR 230646
SRFCAR

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Caribou ME
246 AM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

MEZ029-232000-
Coastal Hancock-
Including the beaches of Sand Beach
246 AM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............Low. 
Surf........................Around 2 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....None. 
UV Index**..................Moderate. 
Water Temperature...........54 degrees. According to the USCG, when 
                            the water temperature is below 60 
                            degrees, the average submerged person 
                            could lose dexterity within minutes and 
                            be unable to accomplish simple tasks 
                            like buckling a life jacket or 
                            operating a radio. 
Weather.....................Sunny. 
High Temperature............In the upper 50s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 10 mph.
Tides...
   Sand Beach...............High 9.6 feet (MLLW) 09:06 AM EDT.
                            Low 1.5 feet (MLLW) 03:09 PM EDT.

.THURSDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Low. 
Surf........................Around 2 feet. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....None. 
Weather.....................Sunny. 
High Temperature............Around 60. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 5 mph.
Tides...
   Sand Beach...............High 10.2 feet (MLLW) 09:47 AM EDT.
                            Low 1.0 feet (MLLW) 03:53 PM EDT.

.FRIDAY...Surf height 4 to 5 feet. Partly sunny. Highs in the mid
60s. Northeast winds around 15 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Surf height 5 to 6 feet. Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain.
Highs in the lower 60s. Breezy. Northeast winds around 25 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Surf height around 5 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers likely.
Highs around 60. Breezy. Northeast winds around 25 mph.

&&

Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.

** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/car

$$

MEZ030-232000-
Coastal Washington-
Including the beaches of Roque Bluffs
246 AM EDT Wed Sep 23 2026

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk............Low. 
Surf........................Around 1 foot. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....None. 
UV Index**..................Moderate. 
Water Temperature...........53 degrees. According to the USCG, when 
                            the water temperature is below 60 
                            degrees, the average submerged person 
                            could lose dexterity within minutes and 
                            be unable to accomplish simple tasks 
                            like buckling a life jacket or 
                            operating a radio. 
Weather.....................Sunny. 
High Temperature............In the mid 50s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 5 mph.
Tides...
   Roque Bluffs.............High 11.1 feet (MLLW) 09:04 AM EDT.
                            Low 1.5 feet (MLLW) 03:09 PM EDT.

.THURSDAY...
Rip Current Risk............Low. 
Surf........................Around 1 foot. 
Thunderstorm Potential**....None. 
Weather.....................Sunny. 
High Temperature............In the upper 50s. 
Winds.......................Northeast winds around 5 mph, becoming 
                            east in the afternoon.
Tides...
   Roque Bluffs.............High 11.7 feet (MLLW) 09:48 AM EDT.
                            Low 0.9 feet (MLLW) 03:54 PM EDT.

.FRIDAY...Surf height around 2 feet. Partly sunny. Highs in the lower
60s. Northeast winds around 15 mph. 
.SATURDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. A chance of rain.
Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 20 mph. 
.SUNDAY...Surf height 2 to 3 feet. Mostly cloudy. Showers likely.
Highs in the upper 50s. Northeast winds around 20 mph.

&&

Rip Current Risk Category
* Low Risk - The risk for rip currents is low, however,
life-threatening rip currents often occur in the vicinity of groins,
jetties, reefs, and piers.
* Moderate Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are possible in the
surf zone.
* High Risk - Life-threatening rip currents are likely in the surf
zone.

** For thunderstorm, waterspout, and UV definitions see:
https://www.weather.gov/beach/car


$$

The water now, measured

Buoy CFWM1, 8411060 - Cutler Farris Wharf, ME, 14 mi away, reported 4:48 AM.

Water temperature: 54 °F
Air temperature: 45 °F
Wind: 2 kt from the NNE

From NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Wave height is the significant height, the average of the highest third; the largest waves run half again as high. Offshore buoys read bigger than the surf at the beach.

Tides today

Shoppee Point, Englishman Bay, 2.4 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

Low tide2:48 AM1.2 ft
High tide9:04 AM11.1 ft
Low tide3:09 PM1.5 ft
High tide9:22 PM11.9 ft

Low tide often exposes the sandbars and channels that shape rip currents, and the risk can run higher for an hour or two either side of it. Full tide table for Shoppee Point, Englishman Bay.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 6:18 AM
Sunset today: 6:25 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 6:19 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 6:23 PM

Times are Eastern Daylight Time. Lifeguards are off duty outside posted hours, and the rip current risk does not fall with the light.

Beaches in this forecast

Roque Bluffs

As the National Weather Service lists them in its surf zone forecast.

What this means

The three levels the National Weather Service issues, and what to do at each.

High	Life-threatening rip currents are likely. The surf zone is dangerous for swimmers of every level. Stay out of the water.
Moderate	Life-threatening rip currents are possible. Swim near a lifeguard, and follow the beach patrol and its flags.
Low	Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard.

If a rip current carries you out

Do not fight the current. It pulls you away from the beach, not under the water.
Stay calm and keep your head above water. Float or tread water until the pull eases.
Swim parallel to the beach, along the shore, until you are out of the current, then angle in toward the beach.
If you cannot escape, face the shore, wave your arms and call for help.
If someone else is caught, do not go in after them. Get a lifeguard, call 911, and throw them something that floats.

Thunderstorms and lightning

No thunderstorms are in the forecast today. Water and open sand leave you the tallest thing around. When thunder roars, go indoors: leave the water and the beach for a building or a hard-topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back.

A rip current is a narrow stream of water flowing away from the beach, through the surf and past the breakers. It pulls swimmers out, not under. Rip current and lightning safety guidance from the National Weather Service.

Nearby

The stretches of shore the National Weather Service forecasts on either side of this one.

More for this place

Sources

Rip current risk, surf, water temperature and UV from the National Weather Service surf zone forecast and beach forecast, office CAR, issued 246 AM EDT, 9/23/2026. Original at NWS. Waves and water temperature measured by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS. Alerts from the National Weather Service for zone MEZ030.