UPDATED: Storm Surge, Large Waves Prompt Coastal Flood Watch for Swampscott

The coming blizzard won't just bring snow — Saturday morning's high tide could potentially damage shoreline homes, the National Weather Service said.

The blizzard expected to begin Friday evening may crescendo into flood damage come Saturday morning. Several areas along the Swampscott waterfront are susceptible to flooding, says town DPW Director Gino Cresta. They include Humphrey Street from the Lynn line to Monument Avenue; on Puritan Road from Fisherman's Beach to Smith Lane; and on Atlantic Avenue from Beach Bluff to the Marblehead line. The National Weather Service has declared a coastal flood watch for the entire Massachusetts coast line — including Swampscott. You've probably heard about the coming storm that's expected to dump one to two feet of snow on much of the state. But early Thursday morning the Weather Service added the flood watch to the blizzard watch already in effect…

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Sea Notes: Stories on the Swampscott Waterfront

Gallery: Beached Boats and Shipwrecks No Coastal Strangers

For centuries storms have claimed Swampscott boats.

For centuries storms have taken a toll on Swampscott boats and claimed lives offshore. A week ago Irene destroyed at least three of about 18 boats that it had ripped from mooring lines in and around Swampscott Harbor. Owners reclaimed most of the boats and most received limited damage. Potent storms, whether tropical, hurricanes or nor'easters, have for centuries beached boats and wreaked havoc with local mariners. Swampscott resident Robert Powell sent us photographs that show what a storm did to local craft less than 10 years ago. The photographs show boats pitched on rocks and crashed below the fish pier. These sights were familiar a week ago after a south wind blew into Swampscott Harbor. Other storms in the past half century or so …

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