Martha's Vineyard woke up to a cold, white world on Friday, the day after a winter storm that pounded the Northeast brought heavy, wet snow and wind, causing widespread power outages.
Ferries were cancelled and public schools and government offices were closed all day Thursday. By nightfall the snow had let up but many areas of the Island remained without power, including most of Aquinnah.
Public schools opened Friday on a two-hour delayed schedule, and temperatures plunged into the 20s with brisk winds. The Steamship Authority suspended ferry service for much of the day Thursday. Ferries are running Friday on a case-by-case basis.
High winds battered the Island and widespread power outages were reported, with large parts of Aquinnah, Chimark, Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury without power. By Friday morning there were around 265 power outages still reported on the Island, mostly in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs.
According to the National Weather Service, the Vineyard experienced blizzard conditions for about four and a half hours, from 12:21 p.m. to 4:53 p.m.
A wind gust of 60 miles per hour was reported at 2:46 p.m. in Edgartown, according to the weather service, and a 51 mile-per-hour gust was reported at 2:52 p.m. in Edgartown.
High tide brought flooding Thursday morning on Dock street and Edgartown, and thunder snow was reported around the Island in the late morning.
Cancellations began Wednesday night, with many town buildings closed and businesses closing early Thursday.
The storm brought an abrupt end to a brief period of unseasonably warm weather.
Comments (5)
Comments
Comment policy »