Nor'easter Tidal Warning: Marblehead Plans Intermittent Road Closures

MARBLEHEAD, MA — Oceanside roads in Marblehead will be subject to intermittent closures Tuesday and Wednesday because of flooding concerns associated with the March nor'easter.

Police said the causeway to and from the neck was to be closed to all traffic as early as 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday ahead of the expected tidal surge with the closure continuing to 6:30 or later.

"The debris on the causeway makes it unsafe for passage during the tidal surge," police said Tuesday afternoon. "Onlookers should stay away from the causeway for their own safety and follow instructions of first responders throughout town."

Police said intermittent road closures will be in place around the high tides on Tuesday and Wednesday with the highest tidal surges expected during the Wednesday morning high tide.

"These areas include all Town beaches and Preston Beach in Swampscott. Parts of Front street, Ocean Avenue, Harbor Avenue and Beacon streets are also prone to flooding," police said. "You should alter any plans accordingly due to these closures.

"Once in place, vehicles will not be allowed to pass. These efforts are implemented for the public's safety and are dictated by often unpredictable weather conditions."

Rain was expected to change to snow even along the coast on Tuesday after nearly two feet of snow fell in North Central Massachusetts. Winds are expected to gust to 40 or 50 miles per hour during the storm.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)