Ocean Rescues Drop in New Hampshire Summer 2026

Manchester, N.H. — When you hear "summer’s been fun and safe" from the New Hampshire State Beach Patrol, you picture sunny days, gentle waves, and, thankfully, fewer emergencies. Chief Patrick Murphy echoed that sentiment, noting the weather itself has been a silent partner in keeping swimmers out of trouble.

"Water conditions have been very favorable for swimmers and for the ocean lifeguards," Murphy said during a brief interview on Saturday. He added that, as of that evening, the patrol logged 170 ocean rescues across the state’s coastline – a drop from the more than 200 rescues recorded in 2025.

Murphy explained that rescue numbers naturally ebb and flow. "When we look at water rescues, it varies from year to year," he said. "That depends on the conditions, the contour of the beach, a lot of storms, not a lot of storms. So far, we haven’t had a single hurricane even come up to this coast. So that really changes some of the rescues we see."

With Labor Day on the horizon, the patrol reminded beachgoers that lifeguard coverage will start winding down. He offered a practical tip: "Number one, you want to go to a beach where there are still lifeguards on duty." While some spots have already closed for the season, places like Hampton Beach, Wallis Sands State Park, and Jenness State Park will still have guards on the sand.

Murphy encouraged visitors to check in with the lifeguards before heading out. "You want to check in with those lifeguards, see if there are any conditions people should be worried about in the water. The surf could pick up. It could die down. But every day it changes. So, check in with the guards," he advised.

For a full schedule of lifeguard hours at New Hampshire’s state parks, swimmers can visit the New Hampshire State Beach Patrol website. Staying informed, staying safe – that’s the message as the summer draws to a close.