For many, the weekend nor’easter felt like an official goodbye to summer as it brought heavy rain, gusty winds and gray skies to communities across the Merrimack Valley.
The early season nor’easter arrived Friday and is not expected to move out until Tuesday. Apart from the precipitation, strong winds buffeted the region, downing trees and powerlines while producing more severe conditions closer to the coast.
While flood watches were issued for seaside communities, inclement weather and difficult travel conditions washed away outdoor plans statewide. Residents in Haverhill, Methuen and Lawrence didn’t bear the brunt, but they still felt its soaking effects.
High winds and falling trees knocked down power lines and caused some outages over the weekend with National Grid listing customers without power at 183 in Andover, 427 in Haverhill and 196 in North Andover as of Sunday morning.
As of early Sunday evening, National Grid still listed 52 customers without power in Andover, 91 without electricity in Haverhill and 18 in the dark in North Andover.
Even before the storm’s approach, the National Weather Service issued wind advisories for gusts reaching 35 to 45 mph.
Rougher conditions arrived Saturday as winds and rain grew stronger as the storm stalled offshore in the mid-Atlantic. The Merrimack Valley was expected to receive between 1.5 and 3 inches of rain over the course of the storm, depending on the nor’easter’s path.
Torry Dooley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Norton, Massachusetts, said inland areas fared better than those closer to the coast. While gusts reached 52 mph at Lawrence Municipal Airport in North Andover, those oceanside on Cape Ann experienced gusts up to 61 mph, according to the NWS.
Dooley cautioned residents to pay particular attention to trees because they are still fully leafed for the season, which could increase the potential of power outages.
“With the trees still being fully leafed at this time of year, the leaves on a tree almost work like a sail on a sailboat,” he said.
Fallen leaves and debris posed a potential problem for storm drains, he added, warning they contribute to urban flooding, particularly in downtown areas dominated by concrete.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency also predicted rainfall totals of about 1 to 3 inches total across much of Massachusetts, with higher totals possible in some parts.
Coastal residents and those living in flood-prone areas were advised to be careful about where they parked, particularly around high tide. Coastal residents were advised to avoid jetties and maintain a safe distance from the water.
Dooley said the storm was not record-breaking or unprecedented, but its arrival was earlier in the season than expected. He said a nor’easter like this would normally occur about mid-October, not late September.
“It isn’t often we see nor’easters this early in the fall,” Gov. Maura Healey said. “But our teams are closely monitoring the forecast, coordinating with local officials and ready to respond quickly to support communities before, during and after the storm.”
The approach of the nor’easter changed or canceled weekend plans for many. In Methuen, the Recreation Department postponed the city’s fishing derby which was slated for Saturday due to the forecast. A ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours set for that same day at the new Methuen Youth & Community Center was also shelved.
The storm also disrupted Ed Sheeran’s two concerts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, scheduled for Friday and Saturday. The tour promoter cited severe weather warnings across Boston and New England while announcing the cancellation.
In Haverhill, officials opened the doors for people seeking shelter from the weather. Emmaus Shelter was available overnight from Friday through Monday, Common Ground Cafe served as a daytime refuge, Community Action offered drop-in hours and Mitch’s Place welcomed visitors seeking a place to stay.
Before the storm’s arrival, state officials urged residents to prepare ahead of time by charging phones and backup batteries, checking flashlights, securing outdoor objects and keeping medications and other essentials readily available.
MEMA Director Dawn Brantley also encouraged folks to check on neighbors, particularly older adults and people with disabilities.
“September is Emergency Preparedness Month, and this storm is another reminder of why it’s important to be prepared,” said Brantley. “Check on neighbors, especially older adults and anyone who has a disability to see if they need help preparing and check in throughout the weekend.”
On the upside, the nor’easter delivered at least an inch or two of much-needed precipitation over a region that has spent months dealing with dry conditions.
Communities across the Merrimack Valley and beyond have been hit by drought conditions, with below-normal rainfall putting pressure on water supplies and reservoirs. The nor’easter was not expected to erase the region’s drought, but the 3 inches or less of rain could only help reserves.