Vineyard beaches close, erosion expected from Erin

Updated, Aug. 21

Beaches on the South Shore of the Island are already closed for swimming or most likely will close soon due to heavy surf and dangerous rip currents from Hurricane Erin. Conservation groups and beach managers are also preparing for the worst especially on South-facing beaches.

South Beach was closed to swimmers on Wednesday and isn’t expected to reopen until Sunday.

Edgartown conservation agent Kara Shemeth said that as of Thursday morning, the beach has been holding strong. But swells are expected to get bigger throughout today and into tomorrow, so the most significant erosion may not take place until midday Friday.

“We’re hunkering down and waiting,” Shemeth said.

Chilmark beach superintendent Martina Mastromonaco said that they have already seen considerable erosion on Chilmark beaches and have been preparing for heavy surf and rip currents since earlier this week. She expects that Squibnocket and Lucy Vincent will be closed to swimming on Thursday, but it will be a decision made by the town whether to close the beaches completely tomorrow and Friday.

“If we get what they are saying we are going to get, we are all going to be under water,” Mastromonaco said. “Predictions are pretty rife… I’m preparing for the worst,” she said, noting that much of the beaches have already faced erosion.

For the Trustees of Reservations, their south-facing beaches, Wasque and Long Point, have seen an impact already as of Thursday. 

“Some locals have reported that this is the largest waves they have seen on Wasque in 10 years,” Darci Schofield, the Trustees’ director for the Islands said. “The surf and rip tides are intense on those beaches, and we anticipate an even more significant overwash of the dunes in both locations. All beaches have been closed to swimming since yesterday afternoon.”

Additionally, there were reports from Long Point of six to seven foot waves in high frequency, although no dune washouts as of Thursday morning. The cove had not breached fully, but the Trustees report that waves have been going over and into Long Cove Pond.

The Dukes County Emergency Management Association also put out a notice about high rip currents on Thursday morning, noting that strong waves and significant beach erosion are expected — which is expected to worsen late Thursday.

But while Hurricane Erin’s powerful winds and swells forced most of the Island’s south-side beaches to close down on Thursday, not everyone steered clear of the shoreline. Near Philbin Beach, roughly 15 surfers paddled into and surfed the six to 10-foot curls churned up by the hurricane’s approach.

Top of the list of concerns for Dukes County is the possible high surf and rip currents, with an advisory in effect into Saturday. “South-facing ocean beaches are most vulnerable, with 10–15 foot breaking waves expected,” a notice from the emergency department states. “Rip currents will be strong and dangerous.… Some beaches do not have lifeguards or have closed due to weather conditions. Inexperienced swimmers and surfers should avoid entering the water.

Beachgoers should stay well away from jetties, piers, and other coastal structures.”

The county notes that Vineyard beaches are especially vulnerable to erosion considering past damage the beaches have faced and the duration of the storm passing through.

Several events on the Island have been pushed due to the weather, and the Steamship Authority is warning of disruptions.

Aside from heavy surf and rip tide warnings, there is also a wind advisory in effect until Friday with gusts reaching as high as 35 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service. Gusts could reach as high as 40 miles per hour overnight Thursday. A coastal flood advisory is in effect from Thursday evening into Friday.

The Healey-Driscoll administration also sent out a statement to warn the public of rip currents at beaches across the state. There are advisories from the National Weather Service for gales and coastal floods around the Island.

“I want to urge everyone on our coasts to stay safe and alert as we expect to experience some effects of the storm passing offshore,” said Governor Maura Healey in a press release today. “Rip currents and high surfs are a serious threat to swimmers. Please be careful while the storm passes through our region and keep an eye out for neighbors who might need assistance.”