The storm warning went up on Friday, a red flag with a centered black square on the flagstaff over the Wharfinger’s Building.

At 3 a.m. Saturday morning, I was awakened by the wind driving rain against the roof and skylight.

David and I could feel the wind blow the car around on the drive out to Barnstable yesterday morning. The afternoon drive back was worse: vicious gusts of wind lashing rain against the windshield. I fought the steering wheel and complained out loud about the idiots who insisted on driving above the speed limit in spite of the weather.

This morning dawned bright and clear. I checked the NOAA website, and read the forecast discussion:

…Strong winds likely to cause damage today. Extremely strong center of sfc lopres located off SWrn Quebec as of 08Z this morning with sfc obs near the center reporting slp of around 969 mb. This will mean a very tight pressure gradient for southern New England today resulting in widespread wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph with locally higher speeds. Expect many reports of downed trees by late this afternoon and many folks without power. Driving will be quite difficult at times.

Carol called, saying she had started to drive back to New Bedford but the wind blew her car half into the other lane on the highway. She’s going to wait until tonight.

The wind stripped leaves off even the sheltered trees on William Street and piled them in an ankle-deep drift on the sidewalk in front of our apartment entrance. Small branches lay here and there on the street.

At church, I asked Ned if his boat were out of the water yet. Yes, he said. And he saw five or six boats blown up on the beach at Padanarum Harbor this morning. The wind kept blowing the inner doors to the church open. Ghosts, just in time for Hallowe’en, said Ned.

On the walk back from Pope’s Island this afternoon, I had to lean into gusts of wind. I watched one or two gulls beating upwind, but most of the gulls had found places to sit.