Massachusetts, 2010

Coastal Flood in Massachusetts, March 1, 2010

March 1, 2010 · NWS BOX · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

An intense ocean storm brought strong winds, which resulted in high wind waves. This, coupled with astronomically high tides, led to moderate coastal flooding on the east coast of Massachusetts.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$20,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS BOX wrote it up.

An intense ocean storm brought strong winds, which resulted in high wind waves. This, coupled with astronomically high tides, led to moderate coastal flooding on the east coast of Massachusetts.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Boston/Norton, MA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 1, 7:51 AM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 1, 7:51 AM EST, 2 hours 9 minutes before
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Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 1, 9:35 AM EST, 25 minutes before
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The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 coastal flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Coastal Flood, Eastern Essex

When
March 1, 10:00 AM EST to 12:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Essex forecast zone
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.639, -70.868 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Several streets in coastal Salem, Marblehead, Salisbury, Newburyport, and Swampscott were flooded with seawater during high tide. This included the traffic circle at Lynn Shore Drive and Nahant Road in Swampscott, which was flooded with water and ocean debris.

Coastal Flood, Eastern Norfolk

When
March 1, 11:25 AM EST to 1:00 PM EST
Where
Eastern Norfolk forecast zone
Property damage
$20,000
Reported by
Amateur Radio
Coordinates
42.171, -71.184 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Atlantic Avenue in Hull and Cohasset was flooded with seawater during high tide. A car was stranded on the causeway in Cohasset. The occupants were rescued by boat.

What these are

Coastal Flood
Flooding of coastal land by the sea, from storm surge, onshore wind or high tides.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Massachusetts in 2010Every state in 2010This day in weather historyWarnings in Massachusetts, March 2010

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-10-01. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 215450, 215452.