Some Thankful For Week's Soaking

It has been a soggy few days with more than three inches of rain dousing Marblehead, but local fire personnel are saying they don't mind.

It has rained off and on since Sunday afternoon, but the National Weather Service is saying the end is near. The front should move off the coastline overnight and into Thursday with warmer temperatures returning for the weekend.

"We haven't had any problems," Marblehead Fire Captain Mike Porter said. "It's been very quiet."

Wednesday's driving rains were a bit too much to handle for some storm drains as water flooded some downtown roadways.

While northern shores got slammed with high seas and strong winds, Porter said the only problem he's seen this week are waves splashing over the causeway.

"We don't shut the road down for that," Porter said.

While it may not be a great weekend to be on vacation in Marblehead, Porter said the rain was much needed.

According to a NWS Meteorologist Kim Buttrick, prior to this week's storm, Marblehead experienced an April and May with below normal rain totals. June and July were both slightly above normal.

"Marblehead had a week in July with no rain and over 90 degree days," Buttrick said. "Also with summer storms, you may get thunderstorms that move through and dump four inches of rain and you get your rain total in two days and then nothing for the rest of the month."

Buttrick said after March rains flooded the region, few major storms have been seen.

"There was time to recover after that," Buttrick said. "But this storm was very much needed."

Porter said the major positive to come out of the water-logged week is the reduced threat of brush fire.

"This absolutely makes us feel better," Porter said of the fire threat. "The drought has been good for vacationers but not so good for the earth."

Porter said during dry spells, he has seen someone flick their cigarette out their window into a home's garden and have the mulch go up in flames. 

"People don't think they are doing anything wrong," Porter said. "They don't think twice and then you have a fire."

Marblehead Summer Rain Totals

April - 1.75 inches (normal is 4.19 inches)

May - 2.85 inches (normal is 3.4 inches)

June - 4.55 (normal is 2.95 inches)

July - 3.75 (normal is 3.1 inches)