Martha’s Vineyard began digging out early Sunday after a daylong blizzard lashed the Island with high winds and drifting snow on the last Saturday in January.
On Sunday morning the storm had passed, and while power had been or was in the process of being restored in most areas, many were still without power, including all of Chappaquiddick, according to the Eversource online outage map.
Detailed information about outages and estimated time of restoration was not immediately available from Eversource Sunday morning.
Emergency and highway crews also were still at work and Island roads were icy and snow covered.
Crews worked around the Island throughout the day Saturday.
The powerful blizzard battered eastern Massachuetts all day, knocking out power and shuttering the Island.
Ferry service and public transit were canceled, and power outages were widespread.
Ferry service resumed early Sunday, with some cancellations due to unspecified problems with the ferry Nantucket. Customers are advised to check the boat line website for current information.
The National Weather Service reported wind gusts of 65 miles per hour on the Vineyard, and even higher gusts on the outer Cape and Nantucket, with winds gusting to 81 miles per hour in East Dennis and 74 miles per hour on Nantucket.
Statewide, the south shore and parts of outer Cape Cod were especially hard hit by the storm.
On the Island the day began with gusty winds and wet snow falling thickly. By mid-day temperatures began to fall, and wind-driven snow began to pile up in great drifts in places. By evening temperatures had fallen into the 20s with sustained high winds.
Low-lying coastal roads, from Beach Road in Vineyard Haven to Dock street in Edgartown, were under water around high tide Saturday morning.
Grocery stores and other businesses closed early and Islanders hunkered down in their homes. Highway crews were out all day plowing and sanding roads.
There were many reports of downed trees and power lines.
A utility pole near the Summer Camp hotel in Oak Bluffs caught fire in the morning.
In the afternoon in Vineyard Haven Harbor the schooner Tangier broke free of her mooring and went aground in turbulent harbor waters. Vineyard Haven harbor master John Crocker said the boat is owned by Carlton Sprague, and that plans were in the works to move it Sunday morning.
Parking bans were in effect in the down-Island towns.
Dukes county emergency managers are posting storm updates on the county website, including updated warming shelter information for Island towns.
Complete lists of cancellations and closures are being updated on the Gazette website’s online community calendar, and the What’s Open section.
Aidan Pollard contributed reporting.
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