Torrential thunderstorms pelted Martha’s Vineyard Monday morning, bringing a deluge of rainfall, lightning, a tornado warning and a possible funnel cloud off Aquinnah.
The skies quickly darkened and showers began just after 11 a.m., rapidly gaining force and turning into a powerful rain storm in a matter of minutes.
At 11:22, the National Weather Service had noticed rotation on its radar and issued a tornado and extreme weather warning for northeastern Dukes County, advising residents take shelter in basements and avoid windows.
“A severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Edgartown, moving northeast at 50 mph,” the warning read.
The warning was active until noon Monday.
Rain continued throughout the hour, flooding streets across the Island.
About half an hour earlier in Aquinnah, resident Bart Jarek noticed what appeared to be a funnel cloud in waters just south of the Gay Head Light. Although Mr. Jarek said in an email to the Gazette that there was no tornado in his vicinity, he noted that Aquinnah also experienced heavy rain and lightning as the storm swept through the Vineyard.
The weather service has also issued a special marine warning for all coastal waters extending 25 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard, as well as the Vineyard and Nantucket Sounds, noting the potential for waterspouts.
“At 1110 AM EST, severe thunderstorms capable of producing waterspouts were located along a line extending from Gay Head Light to 24 [nautical miles] south of the Coastal Waters south of Martha’s Vineyard, moving northeast at 50 knots.”
A video posted by Tisbury police shows water inundating Beach Road and nearly zero visibility near Five Corners and the Martha’s Vineyard Shipyard. Police are asking motorists to seek alternate routes due to flooding.
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