Vineyard Braces for Second Snow Storm

Vineyarders hoping to take a break from clearing their driveways will be disappointed as the Island is expected to endure another winter storm over the weekend. 

The Vineyard could see anywhere from four to seven inches of snow, according to forecasts from the National Weather Service. The Island is under a winter storm watch from Saturday night to late Sunday, and the weather service has also issued a coastal flood watch for Sunday and Monday. 

Though residents were still recovering from last week’s storm, which dumped a foot of snow on the Island, Dukes County Emergency Management Association public information officer Jennelle Gadowski said it is important to stay vigilant. 

She urged homeowners to bundle up and clear driveways periodically to ensure emergency vehicle accessibility. 

“Every few hours, if you’re able to go out and clear out even just a little bit, it’ll make it a lot easier to clear later once there’s more heavier snowfall,” Ms. Gadowski said. 

She said to be mindful of hypothermia and not shovel too much to the point of exhaustion. Clearing outdoor vents from the snow is also important to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.

Though the storm wasn’t expected to bring as much snow as last week, this one could bring winds gusts up to 50 miles per hour. 

“There is potential for Steamship Authority ferry cancellations because of that,” Ms. Gadowski said. “So anyone making trips or making plans this weekend, just pre-plan earlier or stay if possible.”

Strong winds could bring heavy seas, and the weather service is predicted waves reaching between 7 and 10 feet. 

Chilmark harbor master Ryan Rossi said no one should be out on the water during the storm. He’s been doing daily rounds to make sure Menemsha is well-equipped to withstand the wind and snow. 

“We’ve made calls out to the people who do have boats within the harbor to make sure that they remove any standing snow, so that the weight doesn’t become too much to make the boats unstable,” Mr. Rossi said. 

The storm seems to be coinciding with a full moon, which will bring higher tides that could add potential flooding. As of Friday, the weather service expects flooding of less than a foot deep on vulnerable coastal roads from high tide on Sunday morning through Monday afternoon. 

While the winter weather continues, more than 30 volunteers and 15 staff members at Harbor Homes are working to keep the Vineyard’s unhoused population safe. Many have been distributing blankets, hand warmers and shovels and are now preparing for the storm. 

Jeannette de Jesús, Harbor Homes executive director, said its winter shelter at 111 New York Ave. in Oak Bluffs will be open throughout the day on Sunday. 

The organization will also offer transportation to help folks get to their winter shelter and for those that opt to leave the Island during the storm. It can also cover hotel costs for people with medical-related needs.

“The staff are really encouraging individuals to come to the shelter ahead of the storm,” Ms. de Jesús said. 

Harbor Homes hasn’t had this amount of weather to deal with in many years, and Ms. de Jesús said snow removal expenses are piling up. 

“The storm has put a strain on our resources,” Ms. De Jesús said. 

Financial donations would help the organization pay for hotels, transportation and supplies like socks and warm clothing as needed, she said. 

“We have an excellent infrastructure in place,” she said. “We’ve mobilized that and we’re very grateful to our staff, who are really quite good at doing this sort of thing.” 

This article appears in February 6, 2026.