Wind Damage, Coastal Flooding Likely to Return as Part of Weekend Storm

This weekend, it’s deja vu all over again, as Yogi Berra would say.

A high wind watch is in effect for Marblehead, and all of the North Shore, from Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning. The threat of damaging winds comes just over a week after flooding, damaging winds and power outages struck the area.

High winds are “likely” across the area on Saturday night, the weather service said, with sustained winds out of the north at 20-30 miles per hour with gusts to 60 mph. The winds will increase through Saturday afternoon and peak late Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The high wind watch covers all of eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island and was issued because “the potential exists for strong, damaging winds to develop.” The gusty winds could down trees and power lines causing property damage. A high wind warning could be issued and if that happens the weather service warns people to stay inside and away from windows.

Many trees still have leaves on them and those trees will be “most susceptible to damage,” the weather service said.

Also along the coast, there is also the threat of flooding during two high tides over the weekend.

Minor flooding, with “pockets” of minor flooding are possible on Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning at high tide. A coastal flood watch has been issued by the National Weather Service for Saturday night through Sunday morning. Beach erosion is also possible and some shore roads could be flooded at high tide.

High tide in Marblehead is at 6:51 p.m. on Saturday night and 6:31 a.m. on Sunday morning. In addition to all of the east facing coast of Massachusetts, the coastal flood watch also includes the north facing part of Cape Cod and Nantucket.

The coastal flood watch was issued because there is the potential for moderate coastal flooding.