March Nor'easter 2013 -Winter Storm "Saturn"

In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.

                                                      -Albert Camus

Entrance to the beach and the popular beachside bar appropriately named Splash

(Photo courtesy of Rick Barber)

Mainers and New Englanders are no strangers to storms. They happen every month. Some are mild. Some are fast and furious. Some are winter storms like blizzards. However, there is another type of storm that is associated with Maine and New England: The Nor'easter.

When low pressure air moves into the New England region, and  northeasterly winds blow in from the ocean this can produce a slow moving powerful storm. These storms can produce heavy rain or snow and dramatic coastal surges.  Heavy winds are also associated with these mega-storms.  This week Ogunquit and New England experienced yet another Nor'easter, named Saturn.

Winter storm Surge. View of Perkins Cove. (Courtesy of Ogunquit Police).

 

 

Saturn was a slow moving nor'easter with wind gusts up to 40mph. Ogunquit once again was prepared for coastal flooding with high tides smothering the beach and engulfing the parking lot. High seas, and 20 foot (7m) waves belted the shore and Marginal Way.  Once again, schools were cancelled.

 

Entrance to the main beach ( Video courtesy of Ogunquit Police)

 

Ogunquit is no stranger to hard New England weather.  That's why so many of us Ogunquitians cherish our glorious summers!





Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.
-Mark Twain

   (Super Storm Nemo attacking New England and beyond)

This past week was the 35th anniversary of the Blizzard of '78. To many New Englanders this is still the benchmark that storms are measured.  Ironically, New England  experienced  a nor'easter and a blizzard on the anniversary. The region was belted with hurricane force winds, biting cold and two to three feet of snow.

(Ogunquit Beach Inn after "Super Storm Nemo")

Ogunquit fared quite well. Yes, there was extreme high tides, beach erosion and damage-yet the electricity did not go out ( parts of Plymouth County and Cape Cod experienced 4 to 5 days with out power). Total snow accumulation in Ogunquit was 31" inches (78cm).

(Ogunquit Square, at the beginning of the storm)

Ogunquit was prepared. Electricity stayed on, and the hardy residents of Ogunquit shoveled, plowed and watched the epic storm pass through. However, I was unable to attend this snow event. Memories of the blizzard of '78 still haunt me. After the blizzard of '78, I decided that winters in New England were not for me. Yes, I do love Maine, and all it has to offer, but the hard winter months are just not my cup of tea. Guess I am not as hardy as many of my friends and neighbors. Many of my friends take to the slopes, snow shoe and enjoy the idyllic winter days.

(Photo by Anthony Defeo, Ogunquit Beach after Nemo)

Our neighbor Tobias of the Sweet Pea Pied-a-terre gleefully stayed up all night and shoveled his tiny driveway at 3:15am in the morning. To his amazement, Cottage Street ( the street directly behind Ogunquit Beach Inn) was plowed. Ogunquit's town employees were diligent and cleaned the streets around the clock.

(Photo by Tobias Orfe of the Sweet Pea. Shoveling in the early morning hours.)

This photo is from February of 1978, corner of River Road and Beach Street. Local resident survey damage. The following shot is the same spot, 35 years later. 

October Nor'easter

The mighty gale strikes the coast

as creatures great and small seek another course

while winds howl, and waves prowl,

no man or fowl can be saved from this force....

          -Gorio

 Today we had a mild Nor'easter. A nor'easter is a storm system that takes place along the coast of New England and the Canadian maritimes. These storms can happen anytime of the year, but usually occur during late autumn and winter months. Nor'easters form along the Atlantic coast with rotating low pressure winds that mix with rain from the tropics. These two systems collide and can produce massive rain, hurricane like winds, flooding and blizzards. The Blizzard of '78 and the "Perfect Storm of '91" were nor'easters

 Today's storm was mild for Maine. I ran along the Marginal Way and the waves were wild and turning. The coastal birds were still present, and the wind was cranking up. Gusts are expected to exceed 50 mph.

Coastal Maine storms evoke our need to be romantic and primal. A great combination!

Blogger/Innkeeper/Runner Greg lives and works in Ogunquit, Maine and enjoys what Maine has to offer!