75°
Rain Showers
81%
33
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
Skip the beach today.
81% rain · NWS alert active · 74°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Rain showers and patchy smoke. Cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind around 18 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Tonight
Rain showers and patchy smoke before 8pm, then areas of smoke and showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 70. Southwest wind 20 to 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Weather
- 75°F air — ideal beach weather
- 81% rain — wet day — beach day is off
- 18 mph wind — breezy — anchor everything
Water
- 74°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- NWS alert active — small craft advisory issued july 18 at 12:41pm edt until july 19 at 8:00pm edt by nws boston/norton ma
19 /100
skip
15 Swim
14 Sunbathe
28 Walk
57 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 July 18 at 12:41PM EDT until July 19 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Boston/Norton MA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Southwest winds 15 to 25 kt with gusts up to 30 kt and seas 4 to 6 feet. * WHERE...In Massachusetts coastal waters, Coastal waters from Provincetown MA to Chatham MA to Nantucket MA out 20 NM and Coastal Waters extending out to 25 NM South of Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket. In Rhode Island coastal waters, Coastal Waters from Montauk NY to Marthas Vineyard extending out to 20 NM South of Block Island. * WHEN...Until 8 PM EDT Sunday. * IMPACTS...Conditions will be hazardous to small craft.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
75°F
Mostly Cloudy
Wind
18 mph
S
Rain
81%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
5 Moderate
Peaks 11 AM · burn in ~40m
Burn-free before 09 AM & after 03 PM
Tomorrow
78°F
Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
74°F
Swimming weather
Next Low Tide
10:03 PM
0.2 ft · in 52m
Wave Height
2.3 ft
S swell
Barometer
29.85 inHg
1011 hPa
Water Quality
Clean
10 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 10mo ago
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
5:22 AM
Sunset
8:10 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:48 AM | High | 3.9 ft |
| 9:42 AM | Low | -0.1 ft |
| 4:25 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 10:03 PM | Low | 0.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 4:44 AM | High | 3.6 ft |
| 10:32 AM | Low | 0.1 ft |
| 5:16 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| 11:04 PM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:40 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 11:21 AM | Low | 0.3 ft |
| 6:07 PM | High | 3.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:04 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 6:37 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 12:10 PM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 6:56 PM | High | 3.6 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:03 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 7:34 AM | High | 2.8 ft |
| 12:59 PM | Low | 0.7 ft |
| 7:46 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:02 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 8:33 AM | High | 2.6 ft |
| 1:50 PM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 8:37 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:02 AM | Low | 0.5 ft |
| 9:29 AM | High | 2.5 ft |
| 2:43 PM | Low | 0.9 ft |
| 9:27 PM | High | 3.5 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 8449130, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
78°
Mostly Sunny
14%
73
76°
Sunny
0%
84
77°
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
30%
68
76°
Showers And Thunderstorms
88%
1
74°
Rain Showers Likely
55%
43
74°
Chance Rain Showers
35%
64
What to Bring Today
- recommended Sturdy umbrella + sand anchor 18 mph wind
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 74°F
- recommended Rain cover + dry bag 81% chance of rain
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