CAPE COD – The fourth nor’easter this month is affecting the region today into Thursday. Check this article for continuing coverage.
(scroll down for latest updates)
11:00 a.m. update: 1,000 Eversource customers lost power in Bourne. That number was quickly reduced to 250.
2:30 p.m. update: The Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) held a conference call at 10 a.m. March 21, 2018, to discuss plans for the approaching nor’easter.
There is a great deal of uncertainty around the forecast of this storm and the amount of snow expected. Latest guidance has winds picking up later Wednesday afternoon with the onset of steady precipitation—rain or snow—around 6 or 7 p.m. Precipitation in the form of snow is expected after midnight with the effects of the storm diminishing after 10 a.m. Thursday. Snow amounts could vary with the upper Cape experiencing possibly 3 to 5 inches with lesser amounts further east along the peninsula.
Winds will be heaviest this evening and overnight with some gusts in the 60-mph range expected. There is a concern about heavy wet snow sticking to branches and wires accompanied by heavy winds. Some power outages are possible. Citizens should be prepared with a 3-day supply of food, water, and other essentials. Electric utility Eversource will prestage crews around the Cape ahead of the storm. In the event of an outage, call Eversource at 800-592-2000.
Given the storm’s delayed onset, there is less concern about coastal flooding during the early Thursday morning high-tide cycle though a few pockets of moderate coastal flooding are possible, especially in areas that are now more vulnerable due to recent storm damage to coastal walls and dunes.
The BCREPC Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) operated by the Barnstable County All Hazards Incident Management Team will be activated at 6 p.m. Wednesday for the overnight operational period.
No Regional Emergency Shelter System activation is planned at this time, but the Shelter System partners are on standby should the need arise.
4:00 p.m. update: Car vs pole crash reported in area of 800 Falmouth Road (Route 28) shortly after 3:30 PM. The pole was snapped with wires down. The driver was not seriously injured but was detained by Mashpee Police. Route 28 was closed in the area. 850 Eversource customers without power due to crash.
5:00 p.m. update: Route 28 reopened in Falmouth. 2,200 without power in Mashpee and Falmouth.
7:00 p.m. update: The Mashpee outage has been reduced to 8 customers. Latest BCREPC statement “At its 4 p.m. conference call, the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC) reviewed the progress of Winter Storm Toby.
According to weather forecasters, the storm will not be as intense locally as the previous systems that battered the Cape in March. Nevertheless, the BCREPC is keeping an eye on the situation. The Multi-Agency Coordination Center (MACC) operated by the Barnstable County All Hazards Incident Management Team was activated at 6 p.m. Wednesday to stand watch overnight.
No Regional Emergency Shelter System activation is planned at this time, but the Shelter System partners are on standby should the need arise.”
Orleans Police posted this video at Nauset Beach where the storm ravaged Liam’s was razed on Tuesday:
8:00 p.m. update: 725 in the dark in Yarmouth and Hyannis area. A pole fire at Buck Island and Town Brook Roads may be to blame.
11:00 p.m. update: 150 in the dark in Sandwich.
