South Beach after the snow.
Jeanna Shepard

Vineyarders Shovel Out after First Snowstorm of Year

The Vineyard was digging out Sunday after the first snowstorm of the year left almost a foot of snow and largely shuttered the Island Saturday.

The Vineyard was digging out Sunday after the first snowstorm of the year left almost a foot of snow and largely shuttered the Island Saturday.

Mark Wallace clears snow away outside Jim's Package Store Sunday.
Timothy Johnson
Mark Wallace clears snow away outside Jim's Package Store Sunday.
Timothy Johnson

Ferries were running on schedule and the Vineyard Transit Authority reported regular, though slightly delayed, service on Sunday. Plows were out early in Island towns and residents and business owners were busy shoveling out.

Total snowfall reports varied around the Island, with 15.5 inches reported in Oak Bluffs and 8 inches reported in Edgartown, according to the National Weather Service. At one point Saturday the Island received four inches of snowfall in one hour.

Wind was not a big factor in the storm, though at 5 p.m. a 45-mile-per-hour gust was reported in Aquinnah.

Storm over, Ocean Park is serene at sunrise Sunday.
Liz Durkee
Storm over, Ocean Park is serene at sunrise Sunday.
Liz Durkee

The Cape and Islands were under a blizzard warning for most of Saturday. While ferries ran most of the day Saturday, the Steamship Authority cancelled several evening ferry trips between the Vineyard and Woods Hole. The Martha's Vineyard Airport was closed for most of the day, and Peter Pan Bus Lines cancelled trips out of Woods Hole.

In Tisbury streets were closed and a parking ban was in place for most of the day Saturday; police departments asked residents to stay at home as driving conditions were dangerous.

Weekend cancellations had begun by early Friday evening as forecasters issued storm warnings. Many Island businesses closed early Saturday and most weekend events were cancelled as Islanders stayed home. Peter Pan Bus Lines cancelled trips out of Woods Hole Saturday because of the weather.

Walking through a winter wonderland at Sheriff's Meadow Sanctuary.
Maria Thibodeau
Walking through a winter wonderland at Sheriff's Meadow Sanctuary.
Maria Thibodeau

At daybreak Sunday winds had mostly died down, and the Island was a blanket of white.

The Gazette calendar will carry up-to-date weekend cancellations.

More photos of January snowstorm on the Vineyard and photos of Oak Bluffs after the storm.

Gull braves the weather off East Chop.
Jeanna Shepard
Gull braves the weather off East Chop.
Jeanna Shepard
Out for a walk Saturday morning as weekend storm brings snow and wind.
Timothy Johnson
Out for a walk Saturday morning as weekend storm brings snow and wind.
Timothy Johnson
Ferries were running earlier Saturday afternoon as winter storm blankets Island.
Mark Lovewell
Ferries were running earlier Saturday afternoon as winter storm blankets Island.
Mark Lovewell
Spring colors, winter weather at Camp Ground.
Jeanna Shepard
Spring colors, winter weather at Camp Ground.
Jeanna Shepard

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 01/08/2017 - 07:06

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Frank L. Northampton, Pennsylvania

Thank you to the Gazette for your snowy expressed images of the vineyard ! Not much snow here in PA. so we were glad to get a visual visitation of the snow swept scenes you all had !!! Your brave chilled photographers keeping us informed !!

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