This time, there was no calm before the storm.
Thursday afternoon, more than a day out from a rare September nor’easter expected to pummel the Massachusetts coast, Plymouth Harbor already was speckled with whitecaps. Boats bobbed at their moorings, while others were plucked from the sea for safekeeping on land.
“We stopped operation of our launch service because of the wind and the surf,” said Steve Johnson, bookkeeper at Plymouth Yacht Club on Union Street. “It’s a little dangerous.”
“People have been pulling boats out all week,” Johnson said as he surveyed the choppy water from a second-floor office. “Looking at the moorings out here, I see a lot of empties. It’s trying to get ahead of the storm and trying to prevent any significant damage.”
The same scene played out at the nearby Safe Harbor Plymouth marina, where dozens of vessels of varying sizes filled much of the parking area. An employee said the company – which runs marinas across the country as well as in Puerto Rico, France, and other locations – does not allow workers to speak to news outlets.
Forecasts call for the storm to start making its presence felt Friday afternoon, picking up power overnight, and raging right through the weekend. If you watch Boston TV news, it may be all you’ve heard about this week.
As of Thursday, Plymouth appeared to be squarely in the system’s sights. The area could receive 5 or more inches of rain, driven by winds expected to reach 60 miles per hour at times. Because of high pressure to the north, the heavy weather could be stuck in place for days, with gusts not subsiding until Monday or beyond.
All that rain and wind, combined with a series of high astronomical tides, has the potential to cause flooding, significant beach erosion, and an ocean surge driven by northeast winds. With leaves still on trees, it’s likely downed limbs will cause power outages.
But at least it won’t be cold over the next few days. Temperatures will bottom out at around 50 at night and reach the mid-60s by day.
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind warning that includes Plymouth, from 8 a.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Sunday; a coastal flood watch that will be in place from Friday afternoon until Sunday evening; and a high surf advisory took effect at 5 a.m. Friday and continues through Sunday at 8 p.m.
While the precise path of the system remains in flux, local officials, organizations, and sea-centric businesses are preparing with the expectation Plymouth will take its full brunt.
The town’s first seafood festival, sponsored by the Plymouth Downtown Waterfront District, has been rescheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10. It was set to be held on the Town Hall green, the Hedge House lawn on Water Street, and the harbormaster’s wharf.
“We tempted fate by saying the Seafood Festival would happen rain or shine,” organizers wrote in a Facebook post. “We didn’t account for an early September Nor’easter!”
The Plymouth Independent is also among those organizations whose plans have been altered by the weather. The nonprofit’s Freedom of the Press fundraising gala was to be held on the grounds of a waterfront property owned by Ed and Ayli Gates. The event will still go on Saturday, but indoors at the Kingston Collection. Organizers are working to convert a wing of the partially empty mall into a “grand ballroom.”
As of Thursday afternoon, other events were still scheduled to take place over the weekend, as organizers apparently waited to gauge how severe the weather might be. With each passing hour, however, the chances of the storm taking a turn away from the coastline were diminishing.
Also on Thursday, a crew from the town’s Department of Public Works continued to repair an opening in the harbor seawall on Water Street caused by an accident Wednesday. The driver of a recreational vehicle said he mistakenly pushed down on the accelerator instead of the brake when pulling into a parking spot. Plymouth Harbor benefits from the protection of the barrier created by Long Beach, but parts of low-lying Water Street are prone to flooding during especially high tides.
On social media platforms, small businesses promoted tree clean-up services and generator checkups.
In a press release, Fire Chief Neil Foley and Emergency Management Director Christian Horvath outlined recommended safety precautions for residents. They urged people to “check to see if they live in a flood zone or an area prone to flooding and plan accordingly.”
“Clear any leaves, branches, or trash blocking storm drains near their houses to prevent clogs that could cause flooding,” they said. (Here’s how to locate storm drains near you.)
With most yard furniture not yet stored away for the season, they reminded residents to “secure outdoor objects and clear any debris from the perimeter of your home.”
In the event of a power outage, contact Eversource at 800-592-2000. For more information, visit the utility’s storm page here.
And if you truly want to remain calm, turn off the television.
Mark Pothier can be reached at mark@plymouthindependent.org.