MARBLEHEAD– As fierce winds whipped along the Massachusetts coastline and waves roared under gray skies, surfers paddled into the churning Atlantic.
Massachusetts’ nor’easter left approximately 6,000 residents without power Monday morning, and as of 11:45 a.m., there were 3,972 outages, according to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency’s live tracker.
Due to the rough conditions, the Lynn Ferry service was suspended on October 13 and October 14.
The North Shore is expected to receive 1 to 2 inches of rain, with some areas possibly receiving 3 inches from the nor’easter through Tuesday.
According to NBC 10 Boston, Monday’s 5 pm high tide brings the possibility of coastal flooding and erosion at the height of the storm. “Waves by then will be 10-20 feet. Some splashover will occur during Tuesday’s 6 p.m. high tide as the storm pulls away, with the wind more northerly.”
For surfers, the arrival of a Nor’easter wasn’t a reason to stay home; rather, it was a reason to head out to Devereux Beach on Monday morning to catch some waves.
While winds were reported reaching 43 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service, most people hunkered down, but surfers like Spencer Liu saw an opportunity few would dare to take.
“Surfing during a storm like this is beneficial because it’s big,” Liu said, board under arm and a grin on his face. “This spot particularly works because of the way the beach is facing. It faces south, so when the winds come from the north, the winds go offshore.” Offshore winds mean cleaner waves, smoother faces for carving, and more consistent breaks.
For Liu, who’s been surfing for about five years, said these conditions are rare gems worth braving the cold and chaos.
He wasn’t alone. The beach was unusually busy, a sign that word had spread among the local surf community. “Whenever there’s a Nor’easter, this place gets really popular,” Liu added. “It’s probably the best spot for Nor’easters in the area.”
Among the crowd was Mario Moscato, a surfer from Wakefield who described the day as “the biggest day of the storm.”
“Yesterday it wasn’t that good,” Moscato said. “But today, way more intense.” He noted how the storm had strengthened overnight, building the waves higher and thicker. “I think the storm is gonna go all into the Atlantic and then it’s gonna come back,” he said, speculating that the system might spin offshore and return with another swell. “We might get a full week of waves, so it might be busy.”
Like many New England surfers, Moscato’s commute was half the challenge. “It’s close in terms of mileage, but far in terms of time,” he laughed, explaining the early-morning drive from Wakefield to the coast. “But it’s worth it when the waves are good.”
Veteran surfer Jason White, from Rockport, explained that not every beach can handle the brunt of a Nor’easter. “It’s really coming strong out of the Northeast,” he said. “So this is one of the only places you can surf.”
Even though the ocean’s surface appeared deceptively smooth, White pointed out that most coastal areas were unsurfable that day. “The whole coast, you need these little coves, but this one switches this way, so it’s a good spot,” he said
Despite the fierce wind and occasional squalls, White said the water wasn’t unbearable. “It’s pretty warm,” he laughed, noting that he hadn’t yet switched to his heavier fall wetsuit. For him, it was another sign of the ocean’s unpredictability, both wild and welcoming.
To the untrained eye, the Nor’easter looked like a force of destruction. But for these surfers, it was the moment they had been waiting for.
“It’s about reading the wind, knowing the coastline, and timing it right,” Liu said.
Veteran boater and Marblehead resident Bob Hanson watched helplessly as his 37-foot Duffy was pulled from its mooring and thrown ashore by the raging Nor’easter.
Hanson, who had spent the previous day securing the vessel, said he thought he had done everything possible to prepare.“I was tied up at the dock,” he recalled. “I was down there yesterday, put extra lines on everything and double-checked.” But as the storm intensified overnight, the ocean had other plans. Despite his precautions, the relentless wind and surge proved too strong. When Hanson got the call at 1 a.m. Monday morning, the sight was gut-wrenching: his 37-foot Duffy resting on the sand, the hull battered but intact.
“It doesn’t look that bad,” he said with relief, scanning the damage.
Marblehead Police and Fire gathered along the beach to help assess the situation.
