Storm Downs Trees and Breaks Moorings

Strong winds brought a large section of a tree down on a house and tore boats from their moorings at Fisherman's Beach.

  Overnight wind and rain that pounded the region left its mark on Swampscott, though it appears the town was spared widespread damage. A crew of three from the Department of Public Works was called at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to remove a large section of tree that fell on a house at 179 Aspen Road, said DPW Director Gino Cresta. The tree was on the house and its gutters were hanging, according to the town police log. The crew cut up the section and removed it, the DPW director said. As of 8 this morning crews were clearing a large bough that was blocking part of Hillside Avenue, the director said. Cresta said there was only one report of flooding — at Puritan Road and Robin Lane. The police log reported that shortly before midnight two boats …

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High Surf, Strong Rip Tide Advisory Issued for Swampscott and Coastal Mass

Swampscott will feel the impact of Hurricane Leslie this weekend.

Hurricane Leslie may be well offshore of New England, but the Bay State's coast is predicted to still feel an impact for the next few days. The National Weather Service has issued an advisory for the coast including Swampscott, warning of high surfs and dangerous rip currents at beaches facing south and east. Breakers of 12 feet or more are also possible. The high surf and rip tides are anticipated to last into next week, dissipating Tuesday or Wednesday. The threats will lessen on south-facing beaches, but persist in for east-facing beaches for a few days longer. High surf and strong riptides are a danger to swimmers, surfers and to onlookers. Many beaches do not have lifeguards after Labor Day. Onlookers standing on rocks, jetties or sea…

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Severe Storms With Strong Wind and Heavy Rain Possible Saturday Afternoon

There's a possibility of severe thunderstorms in Swampscott on Saturday afternoon.

Severe weather, including the slight possibility of a tornado, is expected on Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service on Saturday morning said thunderstorms would develop between noon and 2 p.m. “then become more numerous during the mid and late afternoon.” The storms are expected to include strong and damaging winds plus torrential downpours. The storms could also include frequent, vivid lightening. Those downpours may cause flooding in small streams and poor drainage areas. The possibility for the severe weather extends across most of southern and central New England, including Swampscott. The weather service also said there is a low chance of tornadoes “but it is a chance worth mentioning.” By midday on Saturday, a tornado …

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David Arsenault

9:30 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012

http://swampscott.patch.com/articles/comprehensive-drainage-study-approved-by-selectmen#comments   more ›

More Storm Photos: Strawberries and Hail

Any photos of the hail and lightning? Feel free to add them to these shots or email them to terry.date@patch.com.

  That was some kind of storm that bore down on Swampscott. Thunder and lightning, hail and even tornado warnings. The skies turned black and moved from Salem to Swampscott. Here are some pictures Kelsey Lombard's family took from the hail storm at Burke Drive, and other photos sent in to the Patch. They include Jessica Sapp's Strawberries and hail, a lovely new dish. Maybe.

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Surging Tide Carries Recreation Sailboats To Nahant

The two 13-foot boats washed ashore near The Tides and are being loaded on to a trailer and returned to Fisherman's Beach this morning.

  Tidal waters surged high on Fisherman's Beach late Sunday night and carried away two Recreation Department sailboats that were stored on dollies.   The 13-foot boats beached by The Tides restaurant in Nahant and were being retrieved this morning by Swampscott High Sailing Team Coach Bart Lowden and members of Friends of Swampscott Sailing, said Recreation Department Director Danielle Strauss. The Department has six of the 13-foot boats, called 420s. The high school sailing team and summer recreation sailing programs use the craft. About 11 pm Sunday an astronomically high tide fueled by a storm off the coast sent tidal waters riding high on Fisherman's Beach where the department stores its sailboats, said the department's director. The …

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Early Storm Drops Limbs and Lines

The overnight storm dropped tree limbs and downed some utility wires leading to scattered outages. Otherwise no flooding or major incidents.

Roads are slushy this morning after about 11/2 inches of snow overnight. Public Works crews hit the road at 10 pm Saturday and salted until about 3:30 am, said Public Works Director Gino Cresta. They then cleared main roads including Humphrey, Atlantic and Puritan, he said. A small crew is clearing downed limbs from streets this morning and a full crew will be doing the same Monday, only clearing them from sidewalks. The storm did not bring wind, water or lots of snow, Cresta said. The main problem was snow on tree limbs that still have their leaves. The burden dropped limbs, he said. Police officers cleared smaller limbs from roads through the night. Several utility wires came down, as well. Capt. John Quinn of the Fire Department said …

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12:30 AM UPDATE: Latest Storm News

The National Weather Service continues to project minor flooding. Snowfall of about 21/2 inches expected. Latest conditions in Swampscott: snow, light wind, 33 degrees with a few reports of downed utility wires.

National Weather Service forecasters say minor coastal flooding is likely early Sunday morning.  There may be some pockets of moderate flooding. As of 12:30 am Sunday in Swampscott, there was snow falling and the temperature was 33 with a wind speed of 2 mph and gusts to 10 mph, according to local weatherman George Allen's weather site. Dispatcher reports said two hours ago that roads were getting slick and a few utility wires were down. National Grid was not reporting any power outages in town. Allen's station by Fisherman's Beach has recorded less than an inch of rain, .66-inches, today. Possible flooding, between 11 pm Saturday and 5 am Sunday, will coincide with hours around high tide, at 2 am Sunday,  Charlie Foley, a National Weather…

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Sea Notes: Stories on the Swampscott Waterfront

NEW VIDEO: Recovery Day

On Monday boat owners got their sailboats back to their moorings, lashed to the town pier or retrieved from rocks.

The day broke clear and calm and the air smelled clean in Swampscott on Monday. It contrasted with the clammy and stormy weather over the weekend. Boat owners whose vessels tore loose from moorings went to work Monday retrieving their vessels. Here is some footage of the retrieval and recovery work.

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Sea Notes: Stories on the Swampscott Waterfront

SCRAPBOOK: Irene Chases Floats Off the Water

DPW workers pulled the floats from the pier's end today but will return them early in the week, depending on the weather.

DPW workers pulled the floats from the pier's end today but will return them early in the week, depending on the weather. DPW heavy equipment operator Paul Plourde said the crew pulled the pier floats to protect them and the pier from damage in the upcoming storm. Boaters use the floats as a landing to board and step off boats. DPW waited to remove them until Saturday when it looked like all the boats that were coming out of the water had done so. DPW Director Gino Cresta said the floats would be returned to the pier's end early in the week and remain there until the season's end, likely mid-October.

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