Storm team (10 PM): Winds up to 90 MPH knock out power to over 36,000

CAPE COD – A bomb cyclone is buffeting the area with high winds. Check here for continuing storm coverage.

Yarmouth saw gusts of 79 mph, Chatham 66 mph and Hyannis 64 mph. Gusts on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket were in the mid 60’s

There were also reports of trees and large limbs down in several towns across the Cape.

Barnstable and Falmouth schools cancelled classes for the day because of the storm. Delays were reported for Cape Tech, Plymouth and Wareham.

Eversource line and tree crews continue working non-stop restoring power to tens-of-thousands of customers across Massachusetts impacted by the nor’easter that swept through the region overnight.

Wind gusts topped 100 mph on the Outer Cape and close to 80 mph in downtown Boston bringing down trees and tree limbs onto power lines and snapping utility poles.

So far, crews have restored power to more than 95,000 customers since the storm began and continue assessing damage and working with communities to clear blocked roads. As of noon, the company was working to restore the remaining 84,000 customers.

“The fierce winds we experienced overnight caused widespread damage to the electric system,” said Eversource Vice President of Electric Operations Doug Foley.

“We have a large contingent of crews working in the communities hit hardest by this storm. Despite the high winds were expecting throughout the day, we’re there for our customers when they need us and are focused on safely restoring service to all of those affected by this storm.”

A wind advisory from the National Weather Service was in effect for Cape Cod until 6 p.m. Thursday.

All ferry service between the Cape and Islands was cancelled.

7 a.m. update: Impressive stats coming in on the storm. Eversource reporting over 36,000 customers without power. Barnstable and Falmouth hardest hit.

Wind reports:
Barnstable County…
Provincetown 90 214 AM 10/17 CWOP
Wellfleet 89 225 AM 10/17 CWOP
Yarmouth 79 130 AM 10/17 Trained Spotter
Mashpee 78 147 AM 10/17 Ham Radio
Chatham 66 139 AM 10/17 Mesonet
Hyannis AP 64 114 AM 10/17 ASOS
Marstons Mills 61 1226 AM 10/17 Amateur Radio
Otis AFB 60 145 AM 10/17 AWOS
Provincetown AP 55 150 AM 10/17 AWOS
Chatham AP 51 105 AM 10/17 ASOS
Hyannis 50 145 AM 10/17 CWOP
Yarmouth Port 46 141 AM 10/17 CWOP
West Chatham 46 116 AM 10/17 CWOP

Commercial Street in Provincetown just past Gosnold Street. Carrie Medina Notaro/CWN

From Falmouth Police: On Thursday, October 17, 2019 05:33 hrs – due to a high wind and rain storm multiple roads in Falmouth are impassable, especially in the down town area and Woods Hole. THE FPD IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDING THAT THE PUBLIC DELAY OR CANCEL THEIR MORNING COMMUTE UNTIL TOWN/STATE DPW AND EVERSOURCE CAN CLEAR THE ROADWAYS OF ALL DEBRIS (TREE’S, UTILITY POLES, DOWN POWER LINES ETC.)

The following road closures are some of the worst impacted by the storm but not just limited to them: RT28South-Palmer Ave, Gifford Street & Amvets Ave, Teaticket Hwy-Sandwich Road North to Cape Verdean Club, Quissett Ave, Palmer Ave in the area of the Bridge, Shore Street, Locust Street, Main Street in front of Liam Maguires, Woods Hole Road, Surf Drive and in the area of Bristol Beach due to flooding and sand. Down power lines on Davisville Road.

From Barnstable Police: The Barnstable Police Department has received numerous reports of trees and wires down around the Town of Barnstable. The DPW and utility companies are out working on the situation, but please be aware that high winds will slow some work efforts.

Travel around town will be difficult with several roads that are blocked by either trees or wires that are down. Use caution and expect delays if you need to drive this morning.

Bourne Fire reported they responded to Hideaway Village for a tree through the roof with wires down.

Tree down Route 28 and Anchor Lane in Cotuit. Cat Wilson/CWN

Orleans Police video wires arcing

10 AM update:: Reports of trees and wires down still coming in. Chatham Harbormaster reports rescuing a man from a 20 foot center console. They strongly advise to stay off the water.

Photo by Dylan of sailboat against West End Breakwater in Provincetown

Large tree down Stage Harbor Road Chatham. Chatham Police/CWN

4 PM update: Still over 30,000 Eversource customers without power. Restoration efforts are well underway but it is slow going and trees are still getting uprooted or falling on wires. Scenes like this one on Oyster Pond Road in Falmouth are common:

Falmouth Police/CWN

10 PM update: 21,800 Eversource customers without power. Traffic lights were still out in some areas including in Eastham Center and in Wellfleet by the Police/Fire stations. Restoration efforts were slowed as more trees came down and the continued winds made it impossible in some cases for crews to go up in their bucket trucks. The utility has reportedly called in 500 extra crews from other areas. They say communities on the South Shore (including Plymouth) and Cape Cod should be substantially restored by 8 p.m. on Saturday.