62°
Patchy Fog
5%
35
Nantucket County, MA · Atlantic Ocean
Madaket Beach
Ames Avenue, Nantucket, MA 02554
The far west end of Nantucket — heavy surf, strong rip currents, and the island's best sunset. Reachable by a 5.5-mile bike path from town; expect few amenities and a small lot that empties fast after sundown.
Today's Conditions
Ideal for photography.
NWS alert active · 62°F air · 58°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Patchy fog. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind around 10 mph.
Tonight
A chance of rain after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. West wind 8 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Weather
- 62°F air — chilly for a beach day
- Fog — low visibility — good for moody photos, less for swimming
Water
- 58°F water — cold — wetsuit or stay dry
Safety
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued november 7 at 1:10pm est until november 9 at 7:00pm est by nws boston/norton ma
35 /100
ok
13 Swim
44 Sunbathe
66 Walk
90 Photo
Best for photography today
Water level 0.7 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
Small Craft Small Craft Advisory
Small Craft Advisory issued November 7 at 1:10PM EST until November 9 at 7:00PM EST by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...West winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 35 kt and seas 7 to 10 feet expected. * WHERE...Coastal Waters extending out to 25 NM South of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket. * WHEN...From 7 PM this evening to 7 PM EST Monday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
62°F
Light Rain
Wind
10 mph
W
Rain
5%
This Afternoon
Air Quality
31 Good
Ozone · Cape Cod and Islands
UV Peak
1 Low
Peaks 09 AM · burn in ~200m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 10 AM
Tomorrow
59°F
Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
58°F
Cold
Next High Tide
11:12 PM
3.0 ft · in 4.7h
Wave Height
0.7 ft
offshore buoy
Barometer
29.61 inHg
1003 hPa · buoy 44020
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (ANZ232)
The BOX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- MAZ022 Barnstable MA — Chatham, Eastham, and Provincetown n/a
- MAZ024 Nantucket MA — Nantucket n/a
- MAZ023 Dukes MA — Edgartown and Aquinnah n/a
- MAZ020 Southern Bristol MA — Westport, Dartmouth, and New Bedford n/a
- RIZ007 Newport RI — Newport, Middletown, and Little Compton n/a
- RIZ006 Washington RI — Narragansett, Charlestown, and Westerly n/a
- RIZ008 Block Island RI — Block Island n/a
- MAZ019 Eastern Plymouth MA — Cohasset, Duxbury, Hingham, Kingston, n/a
- MAZ015 Suffolk MA-Eastern Norfolk MA — Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Winthrop, n/a
- MAZ007 Eastern Essex MA — Beverly, Gloucester, and Newburyport n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
6:19 AM
Sunset
4:29 PM
Moon · 5%
Waning Crescent
Spring tides — bigger range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:44 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 10:27 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 4:32 PM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| 11:12 PM | High | 3.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:27 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 11:10 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 5:17 PM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | High | 2.9 ft |
| 5:08 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 11:50 AM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 6:00 PM | Low | -0.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:43 AM | High | 2.8 ft |
| 5:49 AM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 12:29 PM | High | 3.7 ft |
| 6:41 PM | Low | 0.0 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:22 AM | High | 2.7 ft |
| 6:30 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 1:07 PM | High | 3.6 ft |
| 7:22 PM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00 AM | High | 2.7 ft |
| 7:12 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 1:46 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 8:05 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:39 AM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 7:55 AM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 2:28 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 8:49 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8449130, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
59°
Slight Chance Light Rain then Mostly Sunny
16%
31
57°
Chance Light Rain
34%
22
58°
Sunny
0%
42
57°
Sunny
1%
43
54°
Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Light Rain
21%
38
53°
Light Rain Likely
66%
4
What to Bring Today
- critical Wetsuit (if swimming at all) Water is 58°F — dangerously cold
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Beach Info
Parking
Free small lot at the beach entrance; fills around sunset.
Dogs
April 1 – August 31, dogs only permitted in lifeguarded areas before 9 AM and after 5 PM; must be leashed and licensed.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
Ames Avenue, Nantucket, MA 02554
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Madaket Beach today?
Madaket Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Madaket Beach dog-friendly?
April 1 – August 31, dogs only permitted in lifeguarded areas before 9 AM and after 5 PM; must be leashed and licensed.
Is there an entry fee at Madaket Beach?
Entry to Madaket Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Madaket Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Madaket Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Madaket Beach?
Amenities at Madaket Beach include lifeguards.
When is the water warmest at Madaket Beach?
Atlantic water temperatures peak in August. Northern beaches (ME, NH, MA) run cool — typically 60-68°F at the summer peak. Mid-Atlantic (NJ, DE, MD, VA) hits 74-76°F. The Carolinas and Florida Atlantic warm into the 80s and stay swimmable from May through October.
Where is Madaket Beach located?
Madaket Beach is in Nantucket County, MA, at Ames Avenue, Nantucket, MA 02554.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS