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.
Is summer the Island's true season or is it winter? A meditation on winter, formed during the recent blizzard.
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.