Though the Island was spared the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, it brought with it high winds and powerful surf and left in its wake severe erosion, especially on south-facing shorelines. The ocean washed over Norton Point Beach at Katama in Edgartown, turning the eastern end of the beach into a sandbar covered with water at high tide. On Lucy Vincent Beach in Chilmark, waves carved a U-shaped chunk out of the top of the cliff, and left the beach strewn with rocks, sea foam and seaweed.
While the Island was spared the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, reports early Tuesday confirmed severe erosion, especially on south-facing shorelines. The ocean washed over Norton Point Beach at Katama in Edgartown, turning the eastern end of the beach into a sandbar covered with water at high tide, said Chris Kennedy, superintendent for The Trustees of Reservations.
High winds and waves associated with Hurricane Sandy rolled into town Monday, toppling occassional tree, prompting road closures and flooding low-lying areas in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven and Menemsha.
High surf in the aftermath of Sandy beckoned surfers to stormy Aquinnah beaches, where surf crashed onto beaches and overwashed in many areas onto dunes.
Waters are rising in portions of Edgartown, Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs as strong winds associated with Hurricane Sandy move into the region. Residents are urged to stay off the roadways; Beach Road, Sea View Avenue, Dock Street and Five Corners have all been closed due to flooding, with more closures and flooding expected.
Storm preparations continued throughout the day Saturday as Vineyarders kept all eyes on the forecasts for Hurricane Sandy, churning northward off the coast of the lower mid-Atlantic on a collision course with another storm system moving in from the west.