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MUST SEE: 'Bomb cyclone' flooding freezes Boston solid

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Staff Writers

Friday, January 5, 2018, 22:28 - A powerful blizzard battered the Northeast on Thursday, knocking out power for tens of thousands of people and snarling travel amid a long cold snap that has gripped much of the United States for more than a week and killed more than a dozen people.

More than a foot of snow was reported in Boston, while 17.5 inches in the northeastern suburbs. But the snow was only part of the problem for the city, as intense winds drove seawater inland during the heart of the storm.

Combined with high tides, some areas in Massachusetts experienced significant coastal flooding, with seawater rising near buildings, including a hotel and along Boston's historic Long Wharf (see tweets below), a popular tourist attraction. The water tied a four-decade-old flood record, the National Weather Service's office said.

Boston officials briefly thought they would need to a evacuate a shelter near the flooded areas, according to a Reuters report.

[OFFICIAL] Boston has broken the highest ever recorded tide since 1921. New Record: 4.88' MHHW (or 15.16' MLLW) on January 4th, 2018. Old Record: 4.82' MHHW (or 15.10' MLLW) during the Blizzard of '78. https://t.co/7qZNHVm0y5 — NWS Boston (@NWSBoston) January 5, 2018

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But worse was still yet to come, when the winds shifted as the low passed by offshore, turning the onshore gale to viciously-cold winds from the northwest, and turning some of the flood water to ice.

Below is a closer look at some of the devastating impacts:

Deep freeze





Surreal moment during #Blizzardof2018: water rescues and seeing a frozen storm surge flood parts of #Boston. #bombcyclone pic.twitter.com/CtsmnW75HB — Chris Gloninger (@ChrisGNBCBoston) January 5, 2018





Coastal Erosion, flooding

Boston firefighters wade through a street flooded from tidal surge during Storm Grayson in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

Water from Boston Harbor over the Long Wharf now - employee here says in 28 years he’s never seen it this high #grayson #boston pic.twitter.com/5PxfX0p9Pm — Alexandra Wilson (@TWCAlexWilson) January 4, 2018

Major coastal flooding at Long Wharf all the way up to Atlantic Ave. (via @ItalianInBoston) pic.twitter.com/RLytJoxDuM — BostonTweet (@BostonTweet) January 4, 2018

How bad the flooding in Seaport is right now...



📷: @Wunderfitzig_ pic.twitter.com/gd33OZTIh6 — Only In Boston (@OnlyInBOS) January 4, 2018

Storm surge inundating the streets of Scituate, MA. (video from Jill Pelo) @NWSBoston says this is getting close to the coastal flooding that was observed w/ the #blizzard of 1978; major impacts & evacuations currently ongoing along the E Coast of MA. #blizzard2018 pic.twitter.com/InOlKbE9Il — Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) January 4, 2018

Snow







Pedestrians walk through blinding snow across the Brooklyn Bridge during Storm Grayson in New York City, U.S., January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Ornitz

Pedestrians walk through blinding snow across the Brooklyn Bridge during Storm Grayson in New York City, U.S., January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Ornitz

Pedestrians walk through The Battery during Storm Grayson in New York, U.S., January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

A delivery person on a bicycle makes his way though Times Square during Storm Grayson in New York City, New York, U.S., January 4, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

While some of us are hiding under blankets until spring, Elvis and Ralphie are loving this weather and ready to challenge Caregiver Hervé to a snowball fight. #blizzard2018 #snowday #bombcyclone pic.twitter.com/z6zF2EKSqQ — Woodstock Sanctuary (@WoodstockFarm) January 4, 2018

Fierce winds blowing & drifting heavy #snow in Riverhead, NY. Islip picked up 3" in one hour. #Grayson #blizzard2018 We're live on @weatherchannel starting at 11 AM ET. pic.twitter.com/LGhXbIcVbr — Mike Seidel (@mikeseidel) January 4, 2018

RELATED: Storm barrels up the East Coast, after bringing rare snow to North Florida

With files from Reuters