Weather
50 MA Beaches Closed Heading Into Mild Weekend
The National Weather Service expects high temperatures and humidity to fade for much of the weekend as some state beaches remain closed.
MASSACHUSETTS — Fifty state beaches are closed as of 9 a.m. on Friday as Massachusetts heads into a weekend where it's expected high temperatures and humidity will break.
The state's beach quality report has about 50 beaches listed as closed, up from the 40s earlier this week.
All of the beaches are closed due to either a harmful cyanobacteria bloom or a bacterial exceedance reading, with the exception of Walden Pond, which is closed due to "other" reasons.
Find out what's happening in Across Massachusettsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
This comes as the National Weather Service forecasts more mild and less humid weather on Friday and Saturday.
The NWS expects dry weather with seasonable temperatures and lower humidity into Saturday. However, heat and humidity are expected to briefly return on Sunday with the risk of afternoon and evening scattered thunderstorms.
Find out what's happening in Across Massachusettsfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Dry and much cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels by Monday and Tuesday," forecasters project.
There is no closure related to a swimmer contracting a rare infection earlier this month, however.
On Aug. 8, a case of Vibrio vulnificus infection in "an older individual" who was swimming with an exposed wound at Old Silver Beach on Cape Cod was confirmed.
There is no advisory or closure currently in effect for Old Silver Beach, officials said, noting that the disease is rare and the news is being shared only "to help residents and visitors make informed choices about their health and safety."
Officials said that, although the waters in Cape Cod are monitored for bacteria, there is no way to measure for this infection. What they do know is that it is most often contracted by "at-risk" people swimming in seawater with an open wound.
Officials said Vibrio vulnificus is a "naturally occurring marine bacterium found in coastal and estuarine waters, especially when water temperatures are warm."
Most U.S. cases occur in southern states along the Gulf Coast, but a small number have been reported in the Northeast in recent years, particularly in the late summer and early fall when water temperatures rise.
See Also:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
