The “Bomb Cyclone” Brought Flooding, Rivers of Ice and Slush to Boston
High tide and a "bomb cyclone" storm led to intense conditions.
photo via the Boston Fire Department
As the powerful “bomb cyclone” battered the region with powerful winds, thundersnow boomed, and high tide rolled in, Boston and other coastal areas saw roads turned to slushy rivers, T stops shuttered, drivers trapped in cars, and at least one beach was slammed with icy “shrapnel.”
The National Weather Service reports that tides were nearing historic levels, cresting to heights not recorded since 1921.
[BREAKING] #Boston tide observation on its way to being the HIGHEST EVER RECORDED since 1921; record 4.82′ MHHW (or 15.1′ MLLW) back w/ the #blizzard of ’78; presently at 4.718′ (or 14.99′) which is the second highest tide ever on record pic.twitter.com/DhMlLUEysI
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) January 4, 2018
We appear to be near the record high water level in #Boston. However, it is within a few tenths of an inch and this will need to be confirmed with the NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) @noaaocean before we can confirm or deny whether the record was tied or broken pic.twitter.com/CHiTM6kJ9Z
— NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) January 4, 2018
At Long Wharf, where the icy, slushy water was nearly knee deep, one entrance to the Aquarium MBTA stop had to be closed, and a man had to be rescued from his SUV.
#MBTA #BlueLine: The Harbor side entrance at Aquarium Station is temporarily closed. Please use the State Street entrance/exit: https://t.co/a9UUPK5Kpi pic.twitter.com/yCcprm0Mwj
— MBTA (@MBTA) January 4, 2018
Boston firefighters also rescued a man trapped inside a car at Neponset Circle in Dorchester.
Neponset Circle firefighters come to the rescue of an adult male trapped by rising water pic.twitter.com/ai5DPO7zPg
— Boston Fire Dept. (@BostonFire) January 4, 2018
Large swaths of Seaport Boulevard and sections of Fort Point saw currents of water flowing down the street.
Seawall breach in Seaport. Congress and Seaport Blvd. At least a foot of water. @jreineron7 @adamwilliamsTV @7News pic.twitter.com/npUjchjg09
— Tyler Martin (@tylerUKmartin) January 4, 2018
@universalhub check out Seaport Blvd right now, disaster and its getting worse by the min….. pic.twitter.com/6schC67H9l
— Miss Lippy (@Libjammin) January 4, 2018
The tide is up! 🌊
This vessel has rode up with the tide to street level here in the Seaport, which is not common. #Wx #MAwx pic.twitter.com/T7qdUbfmtt
— Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) January 4, 2018
One video shows the water was so intense, a dumpsters could be seen floating down the street.
Look at this video outside our window of flooding in #Boston historic #FortPoint #Seaport neighborhood that is causing big dumpsters to float down the street. #blizzard2018 @CNN @WCVB pic.twitter.com/mjfrZJYnKr
— kelkelly (@kelkelly) January 4, 2018
Photos showed cars stuck on I-93, unable to drive up an incline.
More stuck cars 93 N exit 26 ramp towards Storrow Drive – unable to make it up the ramp #wcvb pic.twitter.com/mmWQyRY67I
— Karen Anderson (@karenreports) January 4, 2018
And cars in Winthrop nearly submerged.
This is Banks Street in #Winthrop photo courtesy Cheryl Reilly McSharry …. thinking of all the folks hunkered down along the coast right now. #wcvb #WinterStormGrayson pic.twitter.com/uqfZXbqP1r
— Erika Tarantal (@ErikaWCVB) January 4, 2018
#WBZ Winthrop MA pic.twitter.com/tbl5tWaI00
— Mak💚 (@xMakenziexx) January 4, 2018
The situation was so dire in Scituate that Town Administrator Jim Boudreau was warning residents not to head to the shore to watch the mammoth waves role in due to the risk of chunks of ice acting like “shrapnel coming off the beach.”
The MBTA announced service on the Blue Line between Wonderland and Orient Heights was suspended after flooding at the Beachmont stop at around 1:45. Service resumed at 2 p.m.
Elsewhere, the T kept running, and crews worked to keep platforms clear.
Thank you the the #MBTA Crews who are working to keep platforms clear of snow & ice.https://t.co/CAneYMgHPv pic.twitter.com/6aPxcFUW6I
— MBTA (@MBTA) January 4, 2018
Gubernatorial candidate Jay Gonzalez rode the T this morning, chronicling the journey he took from Needham to his campaign office in Cambridge.
