North Shore Braces For Damaging Nor'easter With Coastal Warnings, Cancellatons This Weekend

SALEM, MA — Officials across the North Shore were canceling events, urging residents to secure outdoor items, and stay out of the water this weekend as an early-season nor'easter threatens to batter coastal locations with up to 60-mph winds, 4 to 6 inches of rain, and the possibility of extensive beach erosion and power outages.

The storm hits at what is traditionally the start of the tourist-crush Halloween season in Salem and surrounding areas.

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However, all outdoor city of Salem-sponsored and programmed events from Friday through Monday were canceled in anticipation of the nor'easter.

Salem canceled the Mayor's Night Out and downtown trick-or-treat on Friday, and vendor markets on Salem Common, Front Street and Derby Square through the end of the weekend.

"Any privately run, indoor activities will be operated at the discretion of those individual businesses, and anyone interested in learning more about those events should reach out to those businesses and operators directly about their plans," Salem officials said. "The coming storm is forecasted to be very long in duration, with the potential for gale-force winds beginning on Friday, followed by significant rain from Saturday through Monday."

The Peabody International Festival and the Beverly Police Car and Food Truck event scheduled for Sunday were also postponed.

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Salem Ferry service was canceled from Friday through Monday.

Swampscott ordered all recreational items to be removed from Fisherman's Beach as of Thursday night.

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The town, Swampscott Fire Department, and Swampscott Police Department urged all residents and visitors to stay out of the ocean and away from exposed coastal areas from Friday through Sunday.

That includes no swimming, no surfing or windsurfing, no paddleboarding, no kayaking and no recreational water activities of any kind, officials said.

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"Extremely dangerous surf, powerful rip currents, damaging winds, and coastal flooding are expected," Swampscotf officials said. "Large and unpredictable waves can sweep people into the ocean without warning. Please stay away from beaches, seawalls, rocks, and other exposed coastal locations.

"These conditions are not worth risking your life or the lives of emergency responders. The Harbor Master and fire department boats have been removed from the water in preparation for the storm and will not be available for rapid water rescues."

Those who see anyone in distress in the water should immediately call 911 and not attempt a water rescue on their own.

In Marblehead, residents were warned to be prepared for possible flooding and temporary road closures in historically vulnerable coastal areas. Particular attention will be given to Front Street, Beacon Street and Grace Oliver's.

Ocean Avenue and the Causeway, which provide the only roadway access to and from Marblehead Neck, may be closed if crossing becomes dangerous due to flooding, crashing waves, and debris splash-over.

If conditions make travel across the Causeway unsafe, the town may temporarily close Ocean Avenue and restrict access to the Neck. Residents of Marblehead Neck should plan accordingly and avoid unnecessary travel during the height of the storm.

Additional flooding or closures may occur along other low-lying coastal roads as conditions develop, officials said.

North Shore municipal utility companies were also preparing for the likelihood of power outages and damaging winds.

"Danvers crews are fully prepared as we anticipate this weekend's nor'easter moving into the region," the Danvers Department of Public Works said in a message to the community on Friday. "Our Electric Division and Forestry Division are standing by and closely monitoring conditions to respond quickly to any weather-related outages or electrical issues that may arise."