Hot enough for you? The quintessential New England weather cliche is usually reserved for July, or August, not December, with church bells ringing carols, flip-flops observed and people hanging out on the Island Home’s weather deck.

Drenching rains and gale-force winds marked the start of the weekend, but forecasters and emergency managers breathed a little easier over the powerful hurricane churning through the southern Atlantic.

We are in a drought, and we can see its effect on lawns that are not irrigated.

Roads flooded and lightning struck in more than one place when a line of severe squalls raced through the Vineyard Wednesday morning.

Summer arrives on Sunday afternoon at 12:38 p.m.

Local governments and eligible non-profit organizations are invited to a briefing about federal disaster assistance on May 8.