It was the biggest storm we've probably had since 2022.
— Frank O'Laughlin, meteorologist Barnstable County
Snow, Storm, Ice, Winter!
Cape Cod spent the week digging out from 15 inches of snow and that's just the beginning
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30 January 2026 – CAPE COD, MA – The polar vortex sent snow and icy cold to Cape Cod this week, with more on the way and no end in sight as Cape Cod spent the final week of January digging out from 15 inches of snow — and that’s just the beginning.
What is the polar vortex?
The polar vortex, a pattern in the stratosphere over both north and south pole, has settled into place and setting in motion a pattern likely to hold through February, said meteorologist Frank O’Laughlin, who helps Barnstable County Multi-Agency Coordination Center interpret emerging weather as part of its public safety response.
What do these weather patterns mean?
He said last weekend-into-Monday storm was followed by plunging temperatures. Weather tracking data suggests icy cold lingering through at least mid-February.
The polar vortex is also situated in an ideal spot to spawn the storms that ride onto the Cape and into New England.
“When it’s strong it locks the cold air like a damn and when it gets week like it has this year it tends to let that damn down and all of a sudden all the (cold) air just floods into the lower 48,” he said.
“We have multiple storm threats still coming up for next week … it seem like for the last four week we have a storm every time we get near Saturday and Sunday. We may see that again,” he added.
How much snow did Cape Cod get?
Unofficial county estimates recorded a first round of 15.5 inches of snow in Sandwich, 15.3 in Brewster, 11.9 in Pocasset and 10 in Yarmouth. And then everyone got a bonus 2-3 inches more overnight in a second part of the storm.
People kind of woke up to surprise. Thought they had shoveled earlier in that day and had to shovel the next day again,” said O’Laughlin.
How are people clearing the snow?
That means folks on Cape Cod have been working overtime to dig themselves – and others – out of ice piles.
Ted Mickle is working as part of a team cleaning snow in Eastham – Like hundreds of other plow drivers and landscapers, he has been shoveling and snowblowing and plowing nearly nonstop for several days. What has that been like?
“Cold and icy Tiring.” he said.
How can people prepare for the cold?
O’Laughlin emphasized that the extreme cold can be dangerous – and that the best response to the weather is be prepared, stay warm, and stay safe.
“Safety is job one” he said.
