An overnight coastal blizzard swept up the East Coast late Tuesday forcing schools, businesses and government offices to close for a day in the middle of the week. Then the thermometer plunged to single digits.
The storm will gradually subside after bringing more snow and high winds, the National Weather Service in Taunton said. Schools and government offices are closed. Roads are mostly cleared but drivers are urged to use caution.
The fast-moving coastal winter storm is expected to last through mid-day Wednesday, with the Cape and Islands receiving snow accumulations of eight to 14 inches. Frigid temperatures will follow.
Hardy bay scallopers were grounded, plumbers were on 24-hour call and hardware stores were doing a brisk business in space heaters, hand and foot warmers as the Vineyard was gripped by bitter cold along with the rest of the East Coast early this week.
The first big snowstorm of the year has settled down but temperatures are expected to drop to six degrees tonight, with wind chills of 15-below late tonight and into tomorrow. Sengekontacket Pond began to freeze over late Friday afternoon.
The Vineyard experienced approximately eight inches of snowfall, high winds and frigid temperatures but for the most part the Island is getting back to normal. Most of the roads are clear and the Steamship Authority is running on a trip by trip basis.
A major winter storm carrying high winds, snow and icy temperatures was expected to peak overnight, leaving between 6 and 12 inches of snow in its wake, according to the National Weather Service. Schools and government offices were ordered closed Friday in anticipation of hazardous driving conditions.
A strong winter storm is expected to begin on Thursday morning, with heavy snow and frigid temperatures. Island schools will have early dismissals on Thursday; regional high school lets out at 11 a.m., grammar schools at noon and the charter school at 12:30 p.m.
The year in weather saw average temperatures and rainfall, but heavy snowfall.
The Vineyard received a total of 36 inches of snow this year, almost a foot above average. A huge blizzard impacted most of the northeast corridor back in February. Boston received 25 inches of drifting snow, but only five inches fell in Edgartown. This remains the worst storm of the year, and on the mainland it approached the worst blizzard of the decade.
