Nor'easter Slams Region With Coastal Flooding, Rain, Wind
By Aaron Perry and Pete Bouchard ••
Friday night: Gusty winds, rain ends as wet snow for some. Coastal flooding at midnight. Mid/upper 30s. Saturday: Windy and cool. Occasional snow/rain showers. Near 40. Sunday: Breezy and cool. Few flurries or sprinkles. Near 40.
An Early Warning Weather Alert is in effect now through midday Saturday for major coastal flooding, severe to extreme beach erosion, damaging winds, torrential rain and heavy interior snow.
This system rivaled past nor'easters in January of this year with coastal flooding. With winds gusting to over 90 mph, it was the strongest wind producer since the snow blitz of 2005, where gusts were clocked at over 100 mph on Cape Cod.
The projected path of the nor'easter on Friday, March 2, by 7 a.m.
Here's the projected path of the storm by 7 p.m. on Friday
A look at the total amount of precipitation in this storm across New England
A closer look at the total expected precipitation from this storm in eastern Massachusetts and other parts of southern New England
This is a preliminary estimate of snowfall from the nor'easter
A look at potential wind gusts from the nor'easter by Friday at 5 p.m.
Officials are closely monitoring the nor'easter for its potential to bring moderate to major flooding in many coastal communities.
The biggest impacts with this storm will revolve around major coastal flooding and damaging winds. All state parks and reservations are closed today ahead of the worst part of the coastal flooding.
The term "major" means that a few homes along the coast are expected to be destroyed. The combination of water inundation and large waves are expected to destroy coastal structures and seawalls. Many coastal neighborhoods will likely become isolated due to flooding, some for a long duration of time.
A storm surge of 2 to 3 feet is expected along the coast of eastern Massachusetts today, followed by a 4 to 5 feet storm surge during tomorrow's late morning high tide. Dangerous storm surge and coastal inundation will remain through the day tomorrow with waters finally beginning to recede Sunday afternoon. Offshore waters will crest to 30 to 35 feet.
Another aspect of this storm will be damaging winds. An impressive low-level jet forms in response to the developing coastal low south of Nantucket. Strong pressure falls, coupled with heavy rain will bring some strong winds down to the surface this afternoon and evening. The wind field of this storm encompasses most of New England, with the worst of it centered across eastern Massachusetts.
Watertown Police Department
Powerful winds blew down multiple utility poles along Arsenal Street in Watertown, Massachusetts, on March 2, 2018
The shingles on a home in Sandwich, Massachusetts were literally blown off by the extreme winds during Friday's storm.
Trees toppled by the extreme winds in Friday's storm landed on a house in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
This damage occurred in Brockton, Massachusetts.
NBC10 Boston
Fire officials in Duxbury, Massachusetts, say they are fielding hundreds of 911 calls, with trees having fallen into power lines all across town.
These power poles snapped in Marshfield, Massachusetts.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise
A woman was impaled by a fallen tree while driving her SUV on Bay Road in Easton, Massachusetts.
Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise
A woman was impaled by a fallen tree while driving her SUV on Bay Road in Easton, Massachusetts.
This tree toppled over in Easton, Massachusetts.
Town of Easton
This tree toppled over in Easton, Massachusetts.
Watertown Police Department
Powerful winds blew down multiple utility poles along Arsenal Street in Watertown, Massachusetts, on March 2, 2018
Tewksbury Police Department
Police in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, said the driver of this Jeep, who was the only one in the car at the time, was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries after a tree fell on East Street.
Duxbury Police Department
In addition to flooding, Duxbury saw wind damage, including this tree on Keene Street that took down wires
Spencer Police Department
A tree leaning precariously on Browning Pond Road, March 2, 2018
Norwood Police Department
A downed tree blocked Nahatan Street at Monroe on March 2, 2018
Brockton Mayor Bill Carpenter
Branches and downed trees, including this one on Tilton Avenue, were reported across Brockton, Massachusetts
Wilmington Police Department
High winds knocked out power for large swaths of Massachusetts, including Wilmington, where no electricity meant intersections lost the lights.
Quincy Police Department
Strong winds caused power outages and downed trees in Quincy as well
NBC10 Boston
Reporter Danielle Waugh met with a family that lost 2 cars and got a flooded basement in the blizzard in January. This storm has resulted in a knocked-down fence, and they're now watching flood waters creep up.
Eversource
Downed trees in Somerville, Massachusetts
Boston Fire Department
Boston fire officials are warning residents to stay away from downed wires in the event they're still live
Quincy Police Department
Willard Street access off of Furnace Brook rotary was closed due to the condition of the sign
A shore-side home in Sandwich, Massachusetts lost its porch to the extreme winds and high tides caused by Friday's nor'easter
Heavy wet snow will accumulate across the higher terrain of western New England, including the Berkshires and the Green Mountains. In terms of amounts, the potential for a wet 8 to 12 inches of snow is possible across these areas. Overall, this is the hardest part of a complex and multi-faceted forecast.
We will need to watch these areas for the development of additional power outages where heavy snow and winds may put extra stress on power lines and trees.
A flood warning remains up until 1:30am in southeastern Massachusetts for runoff from torrential rain. Some areas have received over 4 inches of rain.
Not expecting a freeze overnight. Winds and temps stay in the upper 30s thanks to a lack of cold air on the back side of the storm.
Stay tuned to NBC10 Boston and necn for the latest weather updates, and download our free app for the latest conditions on the go.
