Saturday: Hurricane Lee brings high winds, scattered power outages to Cape Cod

According to a 1:46 p.m. update from the National Weather Service, the impacts from Hurricane Lee peaked this morning around our region. Winds will diminish as the afternoon progresses and clear conditions will slowly return to Cape Cod. It will remain breezy in our area, however.

A pleasant fall-like day is In store for Sunday, with high temperatures in the mid 70s and a west wind of around 10 mph. Clouds will start to roll in on Sunday evening. Rain and possible thunderstorms may be in the cards for Monday.

Cape Codders should keep in mind that "dangerous surf and life-threatening rip currents will continue to affect the U.S. East Coast," according to the National Hurricane Center.

The Coastal Flood Warning for Cape Cod has been downgraded by the National Weather Service to a Coastal Flood Advisory, which is in effect until 4 p.m. on Saturday. According to the advisory, minimal inundation above ground level near shorelines and tidal waterways is possible.

A High Surf Advisory has also been issued for Cape Cod, in effect until 8 a.m. Sunday. Large breaking waves of five to 27 feet are possible in the surf zone. Rip currents and dangerous swimming and surfing conditions are predicted. Localized beach erosion is possible.

What were the top wind speeds on Cape Cod?

According to the National Weather Service, the highest peak wind speed in our region during the past 24 hours was 62 mph, recorded at Chapin Beach in Dennis. A wind speed of 58 mph was recorded at Nantucket Memorial Airport. A wind speed of 54 mph was recorded in Wellfleet.

Route 6 closed in Orleans

Route 6 was briefly closed between Exit 89 and the Orleans Rotary at about 7:45 a.m. due to a downed power line. The westbound exit off Route 6 at Exit 89 remains closed. We will post more information about this when it becomes available.

Will Hurricane Lee hit Massachusetts?

While we are certainly feeling the effects of the powerful storm, according to the National Hurricane Center forecast discussion, Lee is expected to make landfall in Atlantic Canada around midday. After landfall, the storm is expected to accelerate to the northeast.

How much rain is expected for Cape Cod?

Forecasters are uncertain on rain totals for the storm, because the amount will be greatly influenced by Hurricane Lee's exact track. According to the National Weather Service Boston/Norton office, locations such as Chatham and Nantucket could see up to two inches of rain, and that amount will drop off rather steeply in more westerly locations.

Power outage updates and how to report power outages on Cape Cod

The Eversource Outage Map is a good resource to check on power outages on Cape Cod. There is also a box in the upper left corner of the map that allows you to report or check on specific power outages.

According to the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee, 9500 customers lost power Cape-wide during the storm.

But most customers regained power quickly. By about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Eversource was reporting that approximately 270 customers on Cape Cod were without power.

Comcast opens public WiFi hotspots

According to a press release, "Comcast has opened 8,500 public Xfinity WiFi hotspots in areas it serves across Cape Cod and the Islands on the Massachusetts coastline, as well as Maine for anyone to use — including non-Xfinity customers — for free."

Here is connection information from Comcast:

How to Get Connected

For a map of public Xfinity WiFi hotspots, which are located both indoors and outdoors in places such as shopping districts, parks and businesses, visit https://finder.wifi.xfinity.com/.

When a hotspot is within range, select the “xfinitywifi” network on a device’s list of available networks and launch a browser. Sign-in options will appear for both Xfinity customers and non-customers.

Xfinity Internet customers can sign in with their account credentials and they will be automatically connected to Xfinity WiFi hotspots in their range in the future. Alternatively, they can download the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app and sign in with their account credentials.

Non-Xfinity Internet customers need to look for the “Get Connected” section and agree to the Terms and Conditions to be connected. Non-customers will be able to renew their complimentary sessions every 2 hours.

What is the weather forecast for Cape Cod?

Here is the Hyannis forecast from the National Weather Service:

Saturday: Showers, mainly before 3 p.m. High near 70. Windy, with a northwest wind 32 to 37 mph decreasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday night: Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 60. West wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 76. West wind 9 to 11 mph.

Sunday night: Increasing clouds, with a low around 64. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

Monday: Showers likely, mainly after 3pm. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 73. South wind 6 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Cape Cod ferry updates and cancellations

Hy-Line Cruises has announced that all service between Hyannis and Martha's Vineyard and direct inter-island service between Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket has been canceled for Saturday.

Here's the latest ferry information from the Steamship Authority:

The Steamship Authority is waiving change and cancellation fees for travel booked for Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Nantucket route on Saturday: The Steamship Authority expects the M/V Iyanough will not run on Saturday. The earliest the Steamship Authority expects service to resume is the 5:30 p.m. departure from Hyannis on the M/V Woods Hole or the 8 p.m. departure from Hyannis on the M/V Eagle.

Martha's Vineyard route on Saturday: All service will be on a trip-by-trip basis.

Seastreak Ferries has canceled all service between New Bedford, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket today, and all Martha’s Vineyard service will be diverted to Vineyard Haven on Sunday. Sunday's diverted schedule includes:

The 8:45 a.m. New Bedford departure will arrive in Vineyard Haven, not Oak Bluffs; 12:30 p.m. Martha’s Vineyard departure will depart from Vineyard Haven, not Oak Bluffs; 2 p.m. New Bedford departure will arrive in Vineyard Haven, not Oak Bluffs; 5:30 p.m. Martha’s Vineyard departure will depart from Vineyard Haven, not Oak Bluffs

The address for the Vineyard Haven dock is 1 Water St., Vineyard Haven.

Questions can be directed to 1-800-BOATRIDE (262-8743), or via email at contactnb@seastreak.com.

Buses on and off Cape Cod

Peter Pan Bus Lines and p and b Plymouth & Brockton list no cancellations or delays for buses traveling on and/or off Cape Cod on Saturday.

Cape and Islands, Boston and Rhode Island airport cancellations

Cape Cod Gateway Airport: Cape Air has canceled all flights in and out of Hyannis on Saturday due to Hurricane Lee, according to a post on the airport's Facebook page. "If cancellations on any other day arise, we will update per normal procedure," the post says.

Nantucket Memorial Airport: Noah Karberg, airport manager, said in a Thursday email the airport will remain open throughout the duration of the storm to accommodate medical flights and any necessary flights to support the Town of Nantucket. He said hangar space will be limited, but the airport will accommodate as many aircraft as possible.

“We are closing our overflow outdoor boarding area, which is a three-season tent, for the duration of the storm,” Karberg said. “We are advising of potential delays when we bring that structure back online Sunday and into Monday: our year-round hold room has a limited capacity, and outbound secure commercial flights may be delayed as a result.  Passengers should contact their airline representatives regarding flight status.”

Logan International Airport in Boston: Flight delays and cancellations are stacking up for flights coming into and out of Logan Airport. Saturday Cape Air flights have been canceled. A message on the airport website advises passengers to check with their airlines on the status of their flight become coming to the airport.

Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport: There were no flight delays listed as of 6:55 a.m. Saturday. Passengers can check the status of their flight here.

Cape Cod National Seashore closures and cancellations

Due to the storm, the Cape Cod National Seashore closed the Marconi Beach stairs in Wellfleet and the walkways to Nauset Light Beach in Eastham and Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro at 5 p.m. on Friday. The Oversand Route was closed on Friday at 5 p.m. All beach fire permits for Saturday have been canceled.

The Dark Sky Festival scheduled for Friday and Saturday has been canceled. Saturday's outdoor ranger programs have been canceled, but indoor programs will still take place.

According to a Seashore release, "other beach access points or areas of the park may be closed at any time due to hazardous conditions."

Theater cancellations and rescheduling 

The Chatham Drama Guild planned to open “Born Yesterday” on Friday as scheduled, but then skip Saturday’s performance because of concerns about the storm and possible storm damage. That show will resume with the 4 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

The Cotuit Center for the Arts black box theater followed suit with Stephanie Miele’s one-woman show, “Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz: Two Broadway Giants.” That musical tribute now opens at 2 p.m. Sunday.

More: Hurricane Lee cancellations: What to look out for

Dennis transfer station, beaches, library reopen

According to a release from the town of Dennis, the town's transfer station reopened at noon. Town beaches and the Dennis Public Library also reopened at noon. The Dennis Pines Golf Course and the Dennis Highlands Golf Course will remain closed for clean-up.

How to watch the story on Cape Cod webcams

Stay safe and watch the storm from the comfort of your home. Here are Cape Cod webcams that will give you a good idea of what Hurricane Lee is bringing to our region:

Hyannis: Anchor Inn Hyannis Harbor Live Cam

Dennis: Horsefoot Cove on the Bass River

Orleans: Skaket Beach and Nauset Beach

Provincetown: Harbormaster’s Lookout and Pilgrim Monument

Wellfleet: Beachcomber at Cahoon Hollow

Woods Hole: Woods Hole Inn and Eel Pond

Biden approves Emergency Declaration for state

According to a release from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), President Biden has approved an Emergency Declaration for Massachusetts to "supplement response efforts due to emergency conditions resulting from Hurricane Lee."

The declaration authorizes FEMA to "to identify, mobilize and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency."

Kitesurfers brave waters at Corporation Beach in Dennis

Tyler Scholl was kitesurfing at Corporation Beach at 9:30 Saturday morning. The tide was on its way in, and the wind and whitecaps were plenty. He was joined by other surfers, including a windsurfer from Glastonbury, CT. The Dennis beaches were a perfect place in light of the westerly winds from Hurricane Lee, they said. According to the National Weather Service, Dennis recorded the highest winds: 62 miles an hour. Onlookers strolled the beaches as the winds blew sand and waves crashed into the beach. A steady stream of cars came in and out of the parking lot to see the storm's impact. — Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times

State of Emergency declared in Massachusetts

Gov. Maura Healey declared a State of Emergency in Massachusetts on Friday and requested FEMA issue a pre-disaster emergency declaration, she announced during a noon press conference.

Healey activated 50 National Guard troops for storm preparation and to be prepared to respond with high-water vehicles if needed.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) opened their state of emergency operation center at their Framingham headquarters at 7 a.m. The state will also set up operation centers in Franklin and Tewksbury to support local and state agencies.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation told residents to plan ahead and to stay off the roads in the height of the storm.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Hurricane Lee brings high winds, possible flooding to Cape Cod