Massachusetts Storm Impact: Flooding And Tornado Hits Cape Cod
Massachusetts was again hit with a few hours of very intense rain storms yesterday. Starting in the late morning hours and carrying through the afternoon, heavy gusts struck up and down the east coast of the state. There were some regions of Massachusetts that experienced flooding, and Cape Cod was hit by a tornado.
Let’s take a look at some of the specifics.
Flooding
Boston.com reported, “Drivers were rescued from their cars in many communities across the state, from Lawrence to Somerville.” Along the North Shore, many towns were hit with over four inches of rain. Lawrence reported over six inches of rainfall. The streets in Lynn Township saw heavy flooding; cars even needed to be rescued out of the water. The same held true for North Andover, where main streets were submersed entirely by flooding.
One of the heaviest rain areas recorded was in Billerica, which was hit with 7.2 inches.
Tornado
WCVB reported two tornadoes touched down in the Bay State. “The NWS said the EF-1 tornado touched down at 11:20 a.m. in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, and was on the ground for three minutes for less than a mile.” This tornado’s wind reached up to 95 miles per hour.
Just before noon yesterday, a second tornado was reported in the Barnstable area of Cape Cod. It was apparently on the grounds for approximately four minutes and registered up to 80 miles per hour winds. This resulted in significant damage that included fallen trees that were completely uprooted. In addition, electrical poles were down in some regions of Barnstable.
Through the month of July, the state had registered 10.53 inches of rain. With the heavy rainstorm in Massachusetts yesterday that included a Cape Cod tornado, that number is expected to be much higher by Labor Day.
We have the rest of the week to enjoy some decent weather. Sunny skies with a high of 86 degrees is expected through Saturday. Then Sunday, there’s a chance of more rain.
Massachusetts: Here Is Where You Can Go On A Floating Tiki Hut
A tiki hut represents happy vibes. The ocean often has the same effect. You can put them together and experience a floating tiki hut excursion out of a few different Massachusetts locations.
What exactly is a floating tiki hut? Well, it’s exactly as it sounds. A small motorized boat (that uses a propeller engine) is simply transformed or decorated into a tiki hut-themed platform. Then a bar is built in the center. The straw tiki hut is then built in its normal umbrella-style layout. A captain hops on board to drive the floating hut while blasting island jams or reggae music. Finally, you need a bartender to serve up appropriately themed drinks.
Sounds fun, but then what? And why?
The latter question has a simple answer. Why not? A floating tiki hut is a unique way to have a fun time with a small group of people while enjoying a nice day out on the Massachusetts waters. As you can see by the places listed below, these excursions can be taken in a bay, lake or even when the ocean is calm.
What do you do when you are on the boat? You relax with your company, have a frozen drink, listen to some music, and mentally transport yourself to the being in the middle of the islands.
While these floating tiki hut bars have become popular attractions in more coastal areas in the south, they have also started to catch on in Massachusetts in the past four years. In addition, there have been a few spinoffs of this theme, like the Friki Tiki in Gloucester, which is a tiki-themed boat cruise. You can typically reserve your adventure for a complete group in advance. And if you are looking for a bachelor or bachelorette party idea, or something different to ring in that big birthday, you can now hop on floating tiki hut.
Here are two floating tiki hut spots locations in Massachusetts where you try this experience.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
