Island Light: Winter’s Wonders
At rest in a calm Vineyard Haven harbor off Owen Park beach.
At rest in a calm Vineyard Haven harbor off Owen Park beach.
Owen Park dock in January.
Owen Park dock in January.
Unsettled skies over the Cow Bay beach cabana.
Unsettled skies over the Cow Bay beach cabana.
Icicle whiskers hang from East Chop pier.
Icicle whiskers hang from East Chop pier.
Saltmarsh boardwalk weaves through Sengekontacket shore.
Saltmarsh boardwalk weaves through Sengekontacket shore.
Boat hulls along Oak Bluffs harbor.
Boat hulls along Oak Bluffs harbor.
Seat for one on Lagoon Pond.
Seat for one on Lagoon Pond.
Just paddling around.
Just paddling around.
Dusting of snow at Martha's Vineyard Airport.
Dusting of snow at Martha's Vineyard Airport.
Grace Church windows illuminated and welcoming.
Grace Church windows illuminated and welcoming.
Martha's Vineyard Hospital.
Martha's Vineyard Hospital.
Lucy Vincent Beach arch created by recent southwest storms.
Lucy Vincent Beach arch created by recent southwest storms.
Work progresses on Snowflake at Gannon and Benjamin.
Work progresses on Snowflake at Gannon and Benjamin.
West Tisbury Fire Department performs ice rescue drills on Seth's Pond.
West Tisbury Fire Department performs ice rescue drills on Seth's Pond.
Jon Mayhew inches along the thin ice.
Jon Mayhew inches along the thin ice.
Safety is paramount.
Safety is paramount.
Sled is used to transport practice victims.
Sled is used to transport practice victims.
Thank you, West Tisbury.
Thank you, West Tisbury.
Only three days left in January and the Island now enters a final run through the back side of winter. The weather of our wintry season has been anything but predictable to this point. All the patterns seem confused and perhaps it will remain so until the gathering of another Vineyard spring.
We may look back on this winter and think of it as a season where periods of thaw were interrupted occasionally by stretches of cold. The Island has had more than its fair share of rain but almost no snow worth mentioning. Often the Vineyard’s weather in this year of El Niño comes in from the south rather than the west.
Stay tuned to this season. More surprises may be on the way.