CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS — A big coastal storm is beginning to strengthen well offshore, and parts of New England, Long Island, and a large stretch of the Atlantic shoreline are set to take a significant hit.
The latest National Weather Service wind gust swath shows gusts of 60+ mph around Cape Cod and Nantucket, with isolated gusts near 70 mph possible. At sea, widespread large waves are expected early Saturday, with offshore wave heights reaching as high as roughly 23 feet, while the Washington, D.C. area looks to mostly miss out on the storm’s worst impacts.
Cape Cod and the Islands: Facing the Strongest Gusts
The most intense winds are forecast around Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, where the gust swath shows values of 63 to 69 mph in the dark red zone. That places the outer Cape and the islands directly in line with the storm’s most powerful wind field.
Gusts of this strength can:
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Snap large tree limbs
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Topple weaker trees
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Bring down power lines
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Create dangerous driving conditions
With trees still holding their leaves in late September, the risk of wind damage and power outages is higher than it would be in winter…