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Beaches closed as of June 2 are in Ashby, Dartmouth, Natick, Plymouth and Shutesbury.
A child and an adult explore the shoreline at Wollaston Beach in Quincy, Massachusetts. Erin Clark/The Boston Globe
With temperatures expected to rise throughout the week, six beaches in five Massachusetts towns were closed on Tuesday.
Two beaches in Dartmouth were closed due to an NGO/CSO event, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Beach Water Quality Dashboard. This is amazing Events occur When heavy rains overwhelm combined sewer systems, causing a mixture of sewage and rainwater to discharge into bodies of water.
The portal shows that in Natick, a beach was closed due to the spread of harmful cyanobacteria.
Ingesting cyanobacteria blooms, which turn water bright green and create a surface froth, can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms or, in larger amounts, liver or nerve damage, according to the researchers. DPH information page on cyanobacteria. Physical contact with the bacteria may irritate the eyes or skin, while inhaling droplets from infected water may cause asthma-like symptoms.
No specific reasons were given for the closures in Ashby, Plymouth and Shutesbury.
according to DPH’s Frequently Asked Questions website regarding water quality testingOther reasons for beach closures include high bacteria levels, wind, heavy rain, and poor underwater visibility.
The department noted that while the Department of Public Health has not provided reopening dates, closures generally last one to two days to facilitate laboratory testing and allow for lowering of bacteria levels.
State law requires local health officials to monitor bacteria levels at more than 1,100 public and semi-public beaches, with testing frequency determined by each site’s vulnerability to water quality issues.
Highs at midday Tuesday reached the 70s, with temperatures expected in the 60s through midnight. Meteorologists expect summer-like heat to return later this week, with highs reaching 84 degrees on Thursday and 87 degrees on Friday.
Mass closure of beaches starting Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Ashby:
Dartmouth:
- Jonestown Beach North
- Jonestown Beach South
Natick:
- Cochitoet State Park Beach
Plymouth:
Shutesbury:
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