Shellfishing In Barnstable, Cape Cod Closed Indefinitely After Heavy Rainfall

BARNSTABLE, MA — Severe weather brought heavy rains and even a tornado to Barnstable on Tuesday, and now, fishermen are paying the price.

The Division of Marine Fisheries has closed Barnstable to all shellfishing due to excessive rainfall, the town said in an announcement.

Worse yet, no restart date as been established, so shellfishing is closed indefinitely.

The same is true for shellfishing in Brewster, Dennis, Mashpee, Falmouth and Yarmouth.

Tuesday's weather brought heavy rainfall to Cape Cod, resulting in at least 3.8 inches in Hyannis, according to a 1:02 p.m. report from the National Weather Service. In Yarmouth, 4.26 inches were recorded by 1 p.m.

A small EF-0 tornado touched down in the town of Barnstable, near the village of Marstons Mills, at 11:52 a.m., officials said. The storm moved east and northeast from Evergreen Drive for approximately four minutes before lifting over Joe Thompson Road, at approximately 11:56 a.m., officials said.

Damage from the tornado included an uprooted hardwood tree and a downed electrical pole, while there was also debris including smaller trees, fence posts and branches. The damage was most concentrated near the center of the track at the intersection of Race Lane and Osterville-West Barnstable Road.

"Witnesses described a chaotic event, observing airborne fence posts and branches," a National Weather Service report said.

Read more: Tornado Confirmed In Barnstable During Day Of Severe Weather