diff --git a/ocean/transects/python/README.md b/ocean/transects/python/README.md
index 7d8dd28d..0016751f 100644
--- a/ocean/transects/python/README.md
+++ b/ocean/transects/python/README.md
@@ -46,5 +46,12 @@ The required inputs are an MPAS mesh file and a geojson file or the name of an
 ocean transect from `geometric_features`.  The required output is a filename
 with the masks and other information about the transect.
 
-
+## cut_closed_transect.py
+
+If a transect is a closed loop, the path of edges and edge signs don't work
+correctly (the shortest path between the beginning and end of the transect is
+trivial and involves a single edge). To avoid this, we provide a tool for
+cutting a square (in lat/lon space) out of the transect to sever the loop.
+The user provides a latitude and longitude (used to locate the closest point)
+on the transect and the size of the square to cut out.
 
diff --git a/ocean/transects/python/cut_closed_transect.py b/ocean/transects/python/cut_closed_transect.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..b6b7326e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ocean/transects/python/cut_closed_transect.py
@@ -0,0 +1,124 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import argparse
+
+import numpy as np
+from geometric_features import (
+    GeometricFeatures,
+    read_feature_collection
+)
+from shapely.geometry import (
+    mapping,
+    Polygon,
+    shape
+)
+
+
+def cut_transect(fc_transect, lat, lon, size, out_filename):
+    """
+    Cut a square out of the given closed-loop transect to break the loop.
+    """
+
+    # find the closest point in the transect to the specificed lat/lon
+
+    feature = fc_transect.features[0]
+    coordinates = feature['geometry']['coordinates']
+    feature_type = feature['geometry']['type']
+    if feature_type == 'LineString':
+        coordinates = [coordinates]
+    elif feature_type != 'MultiLineString':
+        raise ValueError(
+            f'Unexpected geometry type for transect {feature_type}')
+
+    min_dist = None
+    center_lon = None
+    center_lan = None
+    for coords in coordinates:
+        lon_local, lat_local = zip(*coords)
+        dist = np.sqrt((np.array(lon_local) - lon)**2 +
+                       (np.array(lat_local) - lat)**2)
+        index_min = np.argmin(dist)
+        if min_dist is None or dist[index_min] < min_dist:
+            center_lon = lon_local[index_min]
+            center_lan = lat_local[index_min]
+            min_dist = dist[index_min]
+
+    square = Polygon([(center_lon - 0.5 * size, center_lan - 0.5 * size),
+                      (center_lon - 0.5 * size, center_lan + 0.5 * size),
+                      (center_lon + 0.5 * size, center_lan + 0.5 * size),
+                      (center_lon + 0.5 * size, center_lan - 0.5 * size),
+                      (center_lon - 0.5 * size, center_lan - 0.5 * size)])
+
+    feature = fc_transect.features[0]
+    transect_shape = shape(feature['geometry'])
+    transect_shape = transect_shape.difference(square)
+
+    # now sort the coordinates so the start and end of the transect are at the
+    # dividing point
+
+    feature['geometry'] = mapping(transect_shape)
+
+    feature_type = feature['geometry']['type']
+    if feature_type == 'MultiLineString':
+        coordinates = feature['geometry']['coordinates']
+
+        # reorder the LineStrings so the first one starts right after the cut
+
+        closest = None
+        min_dist = None
+        for index, coords in enumerate(coordinates):
+            lon_first, lat_first = coords[0]
+            dist = np.sqrt((lon_first - lon)**2 + (lat_first - lat)**2)
+            if min_dist is None or dist < min_dist:
+                closest = index
+                min_dist = dist
+        new_coords = list(coordinates[closest:])
+        new_coords.extend(list(coordinates[:closest]))
+        feature['geometry']['coordinates'] = tuple(new_coords)
+
+    fc_transect.to_geojson(out_filename)
+
+
+def main():
+
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='''
+        cut the given transect loop as close as possible to the given
+        latitude and longitude''')
+    parser.add_argument('-g', dest='geojson_filename',
+                        help='Geojson filename with transect', required=False)
+    parser.add_argument('-f', dest='feature_name',
+                        help='Name of an ocean transect from '
+                             'geometric_features',
+                        required=False)
+    parser.add_argument('--lat', dest='lat', type=float,
+                        help='The approx. latitude at which to cut the loop',
+                        required=True)
+    parser.add_argument('--lon', dest='lon', type=float,
+                        help='The approx. longitude at which to cut the loop',
+                        required=True)
+    parser.add_argument('--size', dest='size', type=float,
+                        help='The size in degrees of the square used to cut '
+                             'the loop',
+                        required=True)
+    parser.add_argument('-o', dest='out_filename',
+                        help='The geojson file with the cut transect to write '
+                             'out',
+                        required=True)
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    if args.geojson_filename is None and args.feature_name is None:
+        raise ValueError('Must supply either a geojson file or a transect '
+                         'name')
+
+    if args.geojson_filename is not None:
+        fc_transect = read_feature_collection(args.geojson_filename)
+    else:
+        gf = GeometricFeatures()
+        fc_transect = gf.read(componentName='ocean', objectType='transect',
+                              featureNames=[args.feature_name])
+
+    cut_transect(fc_transect, args.lat, args.lon, args.size, args.out_filename)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()