Nearly 60 MA Beaches Closed Amid Hurricane Erin Rip Current Alerts: See Latest Forecast

MASSACHUSETTS — Nearly 60 Massachusetts beaches were off limits to swimming as of Wednesday morning, while the entire coastline was under a high surf and rip current alert as Hurricane Erin moved its way up off the Atlantic shoreline.

While the storm will pass hundreds of miles out to sea, Erin will bring wave heights of 7 to 10 feet above average to many coastal areas, with some seeing waves 12 feet or higher.

• Hurricane Erin To Wreak Dangerous Waves, Rip Currents Along MA Coastline

Wednesday will be a rare rainy one during a hot and dry summer with up to 1.5 inches expected across the region.

A return to sunshine and dry weather comes Thursday, which is expected to last through the weekend as high temperatures rise back into the 80s.

Most of the 59 beaches were closed on Wednesday morning because of high bacteria levels caused by storm runoff and other means of fecal contamination, while a small number of the ponds are suffering from a harmful algae bloom. Water quality at public beaches in Massachusetts is required to be monitored by local public health departments.

When the water quality is unsafe, the beach must be "posted" with a sign indicating that swimming is unsafe and may cause illness. The main beach at Walden Pond in Concord is closed for the season because of safety concerns associated with the construction of a new bathhouse.

Massachusetts beaches closed as of 10 a.m. on Wednesday include:

• Amesbury Lake Gardner
• Ashby Damon Pond Beach
• Ashland Reservoir
• Beverly Woodbury Beach
• Billerica Micozzi Beach at Nutting Lake (2 locations)
• Boston Tenean Beach
• Chicopee Beach
• Concord Walden Pond Main DCR Beach
• Danvers Sandy Beach
• Essex Centennial Grove
• Framingham Learned Pond Beach
• Framingham Saxonville Beach
• Georgetown American Legion Park
• Franklin Chilson Beach
• Holliston Pleasure Point
• Holliston Stoddard Park
• Mashpee Bryant's Neck
• Mashpee Town Landing
• Nahant Beach (4 locations)
• Middleborough Camp Yomechas
• Nantucket Sesachacha Pond
• Natick Cochituate State Park
• Natick Dug Pond
• New Marlborough York Lake Beach
• Newton Crystal Lake
• North Andover Frye Pond
• North Andover Stevens Pond
• Oxford Carbuncle Beach
• Pittsfield Lulu Pond Beach (DCR)
• Quincy Wollaston Beach (4 locations)
• Salem Children's Island (Front)
• Salem Children's Island (Wally)
• Salem Ocean Avenue
• Saugus Pearce Lake Breakheart Reservation
• Sharon Community Center Beach
• Southwick South Pond Beach
• Springfield Bass Pond
• Springfield Camp Wilder
• Springfield Paddle Club
• Templeton Beamans Pond (2 sites)
• Townsend Pearl Hill Pond Beach
• Wareham Shangri-La
• Webster Lakeside
• Webster Memorial Beach (2 locations)
• Westminster Crow Hill Beach
• Wilmington Town Beach (2 locations)
• Winchendon Lake Dennison (2 locations)
• Winthrop Donovans Beach
• Winthrop Halford Beach

The bacteria used as indicator organisms to test the waters at beaches are Enterococci and E. coli. Marine beaches are tested for the presence of Enterococci. Freshwater beaches are tested either for the presence of E. coli or Enterococci. Enteric bacteria are indicator organisms found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals and humans, often associated with fecal contamination.

An elevated presence of these organisms indicates the water may not be safe for human or animal consumption or contact, and cause symptoms ranging from gastrointestinal pain to eye and ear discomfort to flu-like symptoms.

Most of these symptoms are minor, but occasionally a more serious illness may occur. Children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing serious symptoms.

Some beach areas may remain open for recreational activities, though any contact with the water is strongly discouraged.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)