Record flooding was seen Thursday afternoon in the North End and the downtown Boston waterfront as a 3 foot storm surge came in with a 12 foot high tide on the harbor.
Flood waters reached the Rose Kennedy Greenway, a first in Boston, and the highest levels since the Blizzard of ’78. The Aquarium T Stop was closed due to flooding and several buildings have been compromised along Atlantic Avenue and Commercial Street with significant water intrusions. Causeway Street was also closed most of the day with flooding at Lovejoy Wharf and Beverly Street. Some buildings lost power, including Lincoln Wharf, and thousands were left without internet or TV service.
The Boston Fire Department rescued some caught by the fast moving surge around Long Wharf and the Aquarium. Fortunately, we have not heard of significant injuries from the storm. BFD setup a center of operations at the Marriott Long Wharf.
Water came up very quickly near #Boston harbor. Just for perspective… look at how high the water was on this fire truck! #SnowStorm #blizzard2018 #BOMBCYLONE #BOMBOGENISIS #snowbomb pic.twitter.com/pUEJkLZV88
— Eva Pilgrim (@EvaPilgrim) January 4, 2018
Commercial Wharf parking lot flooding (photo by Teresa Mirabito)
North End of Boston inundated by coastal flooding. The Nor’easter struck during the week of month’s highest tides (12.1ft at 12:37pm) w +3ft storm surges. Photo credit: Bud Ris #northend #BOMBCYLONE #BOMBOGENISIS #boston #coastalflooding #wickedhightides #bostonharbor #BOSnow pic.twitter.com/0Xpqqr0oD9
— Boston Harbor Now (@BostonHarborNow) January 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/MBTA/status/948977593281404928
Parked cars at Sargent’s Wharf are also surrounded by flood waters. (Photo by Frankie Boyer)
Make way for ducklings along the #Boston North End Harborwalk. cc: @universalhub @ericfisher pic.twitter.com/yFWy0DY72C
— Katherine Blakeslee (@kbswoon) January 4, 2018
The low lying areas are being hit the hardest along Atlantic Avenue, Long Wharf, Aquarium, and many of the North End wharves. Officials have closed much of Atlantic Avenue where some pedestrians had to be rescued.
Long Wharf in #Boston has become Long Ocean @universalhub #BOMBCYLONE pic.twitter.com/GAmd3qVmfC
— fordpr (@fordpr) January 4, 2018
Astronomically high tide causing major flooding in the Atlantic Avenue near the aquarium to Causeway Street near the TD Garden areas @boston25 pic.twitter.com/ZqfOsJXvbz
— Matthew Gregoire (@BreakngNewsPhtg) January 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/b911nature/status/949082172182401024
It’s also hitting other waterfront neighborhoods, including the Seaport and East Boston.
Seaport Boulevard shut down because of flooding – Silver Line bus backing up #wcvb pic.twitter.com/xzB3N5lbpw
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) January 4, 2018
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdiWG_fBRxd/
Great reporting, Matt, your readers are the best.
This is the one day I would have liked seeing Duck Boats.