The first full day of the Memorial Day weekend was a washout on Martha’s Vineyard, with buckets of rain flooding roads and turning meandering streams into mini rushing rivers.

Alan Dunham, a meteorologist with National Weather Service, reported 3.37 inches of rainfall at about 5 p.m. in Edgartown, and 2.74 inches of rain at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. A backyard weather station in West Tisbury reported four inches.

Traffic sloshing through Five Corners Saturday morning. — Mark Alan Lovewell

The day began as overcast and mild, then early downpours continued throughout the day.

The rainfall caused significant flooding off Circuit avenue in Oak Bluffs. A puddle nearly two feet deep formed in front of the Union Chapel.

Town highway superintendent Richard Combra Jr. said the rainfall coincided with high tide in the harbor, causing a backup in the drainage pipes between about 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. The flooding was cleared by around 2:30.

“It’s a common occurrence,” Mr. Combra said. “It happens maybe once or twice a year.”

He said there was also early flooding in a notorious low spot on County Road, but a drainage project completed in the area in April functioned well, and the water receded.

Ocean Park also saw significant flooding.

Near the North Bluff in the outer harbor, a pair of weekend travelers dashed for the Island Queen ferry, faces covered, umbrellas turned to the weather.

Aquinnah police Sgt. Paul Manning reported no significant flooding in his town.

In Vineyard Haven, Tisbury police Sgt. Chris Habekost said there was flooding on Beach Road, especially near the XtraMart. He estimated the water level was about 12 to 14 inches.

“Cars were able to make it through as long as they were going slowly,” the sergeant said. “The water was right up to the running boards.”

Sergeant Habekost said Five Corners had less flooding than expected. There was also minor flooding along Lambert’s Cove Road and Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Road.

“I think we got through the worst of it,” Sergeant Habekost said.

By end of day the rain had let up and the sun threatened to break through gray clouds, over a soggy Island landscape.