Hurricane Erin far off the Massachusetts coast will still spark ‘life-threatening swimming and surfing conditions’

On Tuesday, 54 beaches across the state are still closed, 37 of them due to high levels of bacteria in the water, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). Several factors, including stormwater runoff, agricultural runoff, sanitary sewer overflows, leaking sewer pipes and wildlife or animal waste, can cause this.

Heading into this weekend, 33 Massachusetts beaches are closed. Here's the full list. The following MA beaches, listed by town, are closed as of Thursday, July 24: Ashland: Hopkinton Reservoir Upper Beach (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom) Cook's Brook (Bacterial Exceedance) Winchendon: Lake Dennison State Park at North Camp Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)

For most of this week, Massachusetts has already been experiencing the impacts from Erin, including rip currents and surf conditions. Conditions are harsh enough that multiple communities have closed beaches to swimmers, including South Shore beaches on ...

Last year, the state reported the third highest rate ever of beaches testing positive for dangerous levels of bacteria.

Over half of all Massachusetts beaches had an unsafe level of fecal bacteria last year, and 47 beaches reached the danger zone at least a quarter of the time they were tested, according to a

As of Monday morning, there were 54 beaches closed across the Bay State, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s interactive beach water quality dashboard. Nearly all of those bodies of water are closed due to harmful bacteria levels, the dashboard indicated.

Islands named Gloucester, Massachusetts, as a North Shore gem of a place. What Islands said about its beaches: "Good Harbor Beach is known for its white sand, as well as offering accessibility to ...

This short but worthwhile drive around an underrated corner of the Bay State offers stops at pretty seaside towns, stunning beaches, and seafood options.