Multiple Streets Closed As High Tide Hits Salem

SALEM, MA -- With Salem streets flooding, Salem Schools remained open but canceled all afternoon activities. High tide hit Salem at 11:13 am and crested at close to 11 feet. That pushed North River over its banks and caused flooding on Bridge Street.

Salem Digest had posted on its Facebook page Friday morning that the city had requested assistance from the Massachusetts National Guard, but that report was inaccurate. Mayor Kim Driscoll said she had not made any such request on behalf of the city.

Officially, police had closed streets in the vicinity of Bridge and Commercial Streets, as well as Beach Avenue, Juniper Avenue up to Columbus Avenue and Columbus at Bay View for the duration of the high tide period. Some streets were expected to be reopened as early as 11:30 am, according to police.

Throughout the morning there were were reports of stranded drivers throughout the city and social media feeds were filling up with photos and videos flooded streets, disabled vehicles and crashing waves. The Harbor Walk and jetties at Pickering Wharf were underwater and Derby Street was impassable.

Salem had already recorded a power outage by 9 am Friday morning and there were reports of trees and limbs down on several streets throughout the city. But schools were in session and no streets had been closed during the morning commute, even as Salem braced for what could be a windy and wet 24 hours.High tide -- the first real big test for the city during the storm -- was predicted to crest at 10.95 feet at 11:13 am Friday morning.

Tonight's high tide at 11:43 pm is estimated to top out at 10.28 feet. By comparison, during the January 4 storm the tide reached a high of 11.6 feet.

The power outage was in the area of Vinnin Square, according to police radio transmissions. The Department of Public Works, meanwhile, was working to clear limbs on several streets, including Clifton Street, Dunlap Street, Leggs Hill, Linden Avenue, and Sargent Street.

Classes were in session at Salem State University and in the Salem Public Schools system. Salem State was asking people to not park in the O'Keefe lot to keep it free for storm operations.

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Photo of Winter Island lighthouse by Dave Copeland on Friday, March 2, 2018.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).