Late-Summer MA Nor'easter Triggers Flood Watch, High Surf Advisory

MASSACHUSETTS — A late-summer nor'easter could bring dangerous and damaging conditions to coastal locations late this week as some areas of the state get soaked with added erosion concerns while others may not break the historic stretch of dry weather.

A storm that has been simmering off the mid-Atlantic and pummeling the Carolinas with rain and wind all week moved north on Thursday bringing offshore gale warnings along the New England coast and rain to the Cape and the Islands as much of the rest of the state remained under clear skies.

• Nor'easter Cancels Salem Ferry Service For 2 Days

With the storm expected to push closer, the National Weather Service issued a High Surf Advisory and Coastal Flood Watch for the Massachusetts coastline from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday.

The NWS said large breaking waves are expected in the surf zone while 1 to 2 feet of inundation is forecast for low-lying coastal locations.

"Some coastal roads become impassable around high tide," the NWS said. "Flooding 1 to 2 feet deep affects roads on the North Shore from Salem and Marblehead to Gloucester to Newburyport.
Rough surf will cause beach erosion and send and debris onto coastal roads. Many roads near Nantucket Harbor become impassable with 1 to 2 feet of water and affecting access to the
ferry terminals.

"Shallow pockets of flooding less than one foot deep will affect low-lying areas in Provincetown, mainly near the airport and Race Point Road. In Truro, flooding up to one foot deep affects low-lying areas near Pamet Harbor and along the Pamet River.

"Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion are possible along the coast."

The NWS said the greatest risk of moderate coastal flooding is along the Plymouth coastline, including the north-facing shoreline of Cape Cod, from Sandwich to Dennis.

Winds will gust up to 25 miles out of the east and northeast through Saturday.

Hy-Line Cruises said that due to the weather, the following trips have been canceled on Thursday: Hyannis to Nantucket at 2:25 p.m.; Nantucket to Hyannis at 4:10 p.m.

What is less clear is how many areas will get what has become some much-needed rain after 29 straight days without measurable rain in Boston (Logan Airport) — a top-five stretch in recorded history.

There is expected to be a sharp cutoff for significant rain with areas of Rhode Island and Cape getting hit with 1 to 2 inches between Thursday and Saturday, while other areas north of Boston may get less than a half inch, and areas well north and west of the city may not get any rain at all.

The weather system will usher in a much cooler pattern as this week's highs in the 80s struggle to get out of the low- to mid-60s on Saturday, Sunday and into next week.

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