List: Nearly 40 beaches closed across Massachusetts on Thursday as heat, humidity climb

BOSTON — Nearly 40 beaches in Massachusetts are closed to swimmers on Thursday due to bacteria concerns as heat and humidity climb to potentially unsafe levels ahead of the weekend.

As of Thursday morning, there were 39 beaches, lakes, and ponds closed, including popular destinations on Cape Cod and the Islands, 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.

The dashboard is updated daily at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. during beach season.

The water quality at beaches in Massachusetts is required to be monitored. This monitoring data helps local health officials determine when to close a beach due to unsafe conditions and notify the public so that beach visitors can make informed decisions about swimming at the beach.

Swimming in unsafe waters can result in gastrointestinal and respiratory health issues.

The state conducts weekly water quality testing at the start of each week from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Below is the current list of active closures shown in the dashboard:

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