Region readies for Hanna

SWAMPSCOTT – Retired Swampscott High science teacher Joe Balsama, an amateur meteorologist, is keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Hanna.”It’ll be interesting to see how this one goes,” Balsama said Friday morning. “I think we’re going to get some very heavy rain and possibly some wind. There might be some minor flooding but I don’t think it’ll be any worse than a regular Nor’easter.”Balsama, who has rain gauges and other meteorological instruments in his backyard, has been tracking the weather since 1969 said he would be watching the storm closely. “I’ll be watching almost the whole day,” he said.Balsama said he expects the remnants of Hanna to dump two to four inches of rain on the North Shore.”It’s supposed to move fast,” he said. “So I don’t think we’ll get more than that as long as it moves fast. I think we’ll get hit in two shifts Saturday. We’ll have rain and wind in the morning then an afternoon lull then it’ll get heavy in the evening. It’ll be gone by Sunday.The National Weather Service is calling for showers Saturday morning with a chance of thunderstorms. Showers and thunderstorms are likely Saturday night with southeast winds 10-20 miles per hour with gusts to 35 mph. The forecast calls for winds to increase to 25-35 mph after midnight with gusts up to 50 mph.”What’s puzzling are the other hurricanes waiting in the wings,” he said. “It’s going to be tricky figuring out what those are going to do,” Balsama said. “There are so many variables – changing wind patterns and conditions in the upper atmosphere. This hurricane season will peak in mid-September but I think it’ll be pretty active until right up until the end of the month.”With Hanna on the way, Revere Public Works Superintendent Donald Goodwin is focusing on flood prevention in low-lying neighborhoods off North Shore Road. City workers will install two pumps today on Martin Street.The pumps pull water out of areas below sea level before city crews close tide gates to hold back the incoming tide. The pumps are turned on again after the rain subsides. Goodwin is concerned the rainy summer has raised water tables to the point where the ground cannot absorb much rainwater.”If you’re in a low lying area, be prepared to do some pumping,” he said.Balsama said it’s not unusual for hurricane season to start out slow and then become active.”All of a sudden they’re here.” he said. “And they keep coming one right after the other.”