Here's what to expect from the pre-Christmas winter storm on Cape Cod

Asad Jung, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read

A nasty rainstorm is expected to hit Cape Cod Thursday night and stay through Friday afternoon, said Hayden Frank, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service.

The Cape is looking at 1½ to 3 inches of rain, as well as wind between 55 and 60 miles an hour. Temperatures are expected to drop after the storm into the low twenties, Frank said.

Risks from the storm include beach erosion, coastal flooding and wind damage. However, the biggest impact will likely be power outages due to wind damage.

Chris McKinnon, a spokesperson for Eversource, said he expects the entire region — Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Hampshire — to be affected by the storm with power outages.

Waves roll in along Surf Drive in Falmouth with a late morning high tide, in 2021. Part of the road was closed during a storm.
Waves roll in along Surf Drive in Falmouth with a late morning high tide, in 2021. Part of the road was closed during a storm.

Eversource Outage Map:Find out about Cape and Islands power outages here

What to do to prepare for power outages

Eversource has been gearing up for the storm by making sure all essential workers are on the clock and that 400 to 500 additional crews from other states are available to help with the storm response. Between the additional crews and local Eversource crews, McKinnon expects over 1,000 crews to help respond to the storm.

People should assemble a storm kit with flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable foods, pet food and any needed medications, according to a news release from Eversource. Also, make sure cellphones and devices are fully charged, and create an emergency plan with members of your family. Also, consider checking on older neighbors and friends.

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“Having a plan in place in case you do lose power is a good approach right now,” said Frank.

Because the storm will be mostly rain, not snow, there are some benefits to emergency response. Crews will be able to get to damaged areas easier than if streets were filled with snow, said McKinnon.

“If you’re living in Massachusetts anywhere, you’re probably going to feel the effects,” he said.

Contact Asad Jung at ajung@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @asadjungcct.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod storm forecast: Expect wind damage, flooding, storm surge