A ferocious northeast storm lashed the Vineyard with heavy rains and high winds Friday, flooding roads, battering coastlines and cancelling ferries through mid-day Saturday. At nightfall Friday hurricane-force winds still whipped around the Island, where many were without power.
High winds were expected to continue into the night, and the National Weather Service said high tide just after midnight was expected to bring more severe coastal flooding.
Most north-facing coastal roads were closed from Friday morning on and ferry service was suspended throughout the day. The Steamship Authority said ferry service will remain suspended through noon Saturday.
Island police asked people to stay off the roads Friday evening because of downed trees and power lines. Edgartown police reported a transformer fire on Upper Main street by the Mobil gas station; police said the fire led to power outages in town.
As the day came to an end power outages were widespread around the Island. All Eversource customers in Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury were without power, according to the company. Most of Edgartown and part of Oak Bluffs were in the dark. Official information was not available for Vineyard Haven, but outages were reported there, including downtown.
MVYradio was off the air because of the storm. Extra Eversource crews were stationed on the Island to deal with power outages.
The storm gained intensity throughout the day. By late afternoon wind gusts were hurricane force. A wind gust of 74 miles per hour was reported at 5:30 p.m. in Edgartown and gust of 75 miles per hour reported at 6 p.m. in Vineyard Haven. The airport recorded a 62 miles-per-hour gust at 5:15 p.m. Gusts were even higher in Woods Hole and on Nantucket, where a gust of 90 miles per hour was reported.
The Martha's Vineyard Airport was open but no flights were operating.
Road closures include Beach Road between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, Sea View avenue in Oak Bluffs, and East Chop Drive in Oak Bluffs between Brewster avenue and Munroe avenue. Lagoon Pond Road, Beach Road and Water street are closed in Vineyard Haven. Tisbury police have asked people to avoid driving through the Five Corners intersection.
Two wooden sailboats were driven ashore in Vineyard Haven near Owen Park.
Shellfishing areas have been closed because of the rain.
Chappy ferry service was suspended mid-morning Friday.
Town offices, libraries, and many businesses closed early.
The storm dumped large amounts of rain on the Island, already saturated from prolonged winter rains. Secondary roads were washed out, fields became lakes and streams rushing rivers.
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