Woods Hole Tornado Confirmed; Cape's First In Decades

A tornado was confirmed in Woods Hole Monday after a water spout that formed in Vineyard Sound came ashore, according to the National Weather Service. The NWS said winds were between 60 and 65 mph and the tornado traveled about 10 yards. No injuries were reported.

The only reported damage was at the Woods Hole Golf Club, where witnesses told the NWS the tornado lifted four wooden chairs into the air and threw them about 500 yards onto a tennis court.

It is the first tornado on Cape Cod in nearly 40 years, NBC's Ryan Hanrahan reported.

A tornado warning for Dukes and Barnstable counties was lifted Monday morning. The NWS initially issued a warning for central Dukes County and southwestern Barnstable County that was expected to expire at 10:15 a.m., but it was extended for Barnstable until 10:45 a.m.

A water spout was reported by the Steamship Authority near Woods Hole around 9:50 a.m. Falmouth schools have moved their students indoors at ground level as a precaution.

The NWS warned that storms could produce a tornado and hail, leading to flying debris and damage to mobile homes, roofs, windows, vehicles and trees.

The NWS expected the storm to move toward Tisbury and West Tisbury around 9:45 a.m., Falmouth around 10 a.m., Mashpee around 10:10 a.m. and Barnstable, Sandwich and Bourne around 10:15 a.m. People in the area were advised to take cover by moving to a basement or a room on the lowest floor of a building and avoid windows.

The NWS cautioned those who are outside or in a mobile home or vehicle to move indoors.

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