Storm Causes Local Flooding

By Sue Ellen Woodcock

It wasn’t so much the snow that caused problems for some Winthrop residents this past Monday, it was the ocean, giving especially The Point area a one-two punch.

Town Manager James McKenna said the berm at Yirrell Beach held in one portion of the beach but was pushed down in another area.

“It was a debris field down there,” McKenna said, adding that the town pumped out several basements.

The astronomical high tides raised water levels about three feet along a good portion of Shirley Street, flooding several properties. Before high tide on Monday the water level was even with the street near the Winthrop Yacht Club and eventually came over.

Revere Street heading toward Revere was closed Monday morning because of flooding and debris and rocks being thrown over the wall at Short Beach. The area was closed again at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday due to splash over. Water stopped an hour later but started up again at about 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Winthrop Beach held up fairly well and the force of the ocean did push the controversial cobbles up to the wall.

Flooded streets include, but were not limited to Shirley, Townsend and Bayview Avenue.

“The second high tide of a storm is always worse,” McKenna said.

Last Friday the town was blanketed with several inches of heavy, wet snow. Students got their first snow day, followed by another one on Monday.

Despite the snow emergency in place and DCR banning parking on the coastal roads, tow truck operators from Todisco and G&J started towing at 7:30 a.m. Monday morning.