A run of coastal hazards is lining up for the Jersey Shore and Delaware beaches this week, starting with a High Rip Current Risk Tuesday and building into back-to-back rounds of tidal flooding.
The NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly office issued a Coastal Flood Advisory, a Coastal Flood Watch, and continued a High Rip Current Risk across New Jersey and Delaware.
Dangerous Rip Currents Tuesday
A High Rip Current Risk is in effect Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening for the Atlantic coast of Cape May, Coastal Atlantic and Coastal Ocean counties. Swimmers, even strong ones, can be swept away from shore into deeper water.
Beachgoers are urged to obey posted beach flags, swim near a lifeguard, and if caught in a rip current, float and swim parallel to shore rather than fighting the current directly.
Coastal Flood Advisory: Tuesday Afternoon Into Evening
A Coastal Flood Advisory runs from 4 PM to 10 PM EDT Tuesday for the New Jersey shore counties of Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May and Southeastern Burlington, as well as the Delaware beaches and the inland Delaware counties of Kent and Sussex.
Up to a half foot of inundation is expected above ground level in New Jersey’s low-lying shoreline communities, with up to a full foot possible along the Delaware coast. Widespread roadway flooding is likely in coastal and bayside neighborhoods, and some roads may become impassable.
A Coastal Flood Watch Follows Midweek
Behind Tuesday’s advisory, a Coastal Flood Watch takes over from Wednesday afternoon through late Thursday night across the same stretch of shoreline. Forecasters say one to two feet of inundation above ground level is possible in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways, a level that could begin to damage vulnerable structures.
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly says moderate tidal flooding could persist through at least Friday evening’s high tide, or possibly longer.
Tide gauges back up the forecast. At Atlantic City, Tuesday evening’s high tide is expected to reach minor flood impact, with Wednesday evening’s tide climbing to moderate flooding at 7.1 feet MLLW. Cape May Harbor and Barnegat Bay show a similar pattern, with moderate flood impacts forecast for Wednesday evening and minor flooding continuing into Thursday morning.
What Coastal Residents and Beachgoers Should Do
Drivers should avoid low-lying coastal and bayside roads during Tuesday’s evening high tide window and again Wednesday and Thursday, since water can rise quickly and make roads impassable with little warning.
Residents in flood-prone shoreline neighborhoods should secure or elevate anything stored outdoors that could float away, and business owners near tidal waterways should watch for water intrusion as the week’s high tides build toward moderate flood stage.
Anyone heading to the beach should check conditions before entering the water and never swim alone. Updated water level and flood impact information is available at water.noaa.gov/wfo/phi.
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