PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Forecasters are warning of flooding and beach erosion at the Jersey Shore this week as a storm system brings heavy rain into the area.
A slow-moving, low pressure system off the coast is flowing from the ocean toward the shore. Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties are all under emergency weather alerts and advisories this week with up to 50-miles-an-hour wind speeds in the forecast.
“Whenever you have that onshore flow, especially for such a long duration, which is what we’re looking at now, then the concern increases for coastal and tidal flooding,” said Sarah Johnson, warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
Johnson said the flooding could be moderate along the shore and along the tidal Delaware River going up to Trenton. Saturday’s full moon would also play a role.
“We tend to have astronomical high tide cycles with the full moon in the new moon, so the fact that we’re getting these strong shore winds as we are getting into the full moon is what is increasing the coastal flood threat,” she said, adding that high winds will create choppy conditions out on the water.
Roads near back bays are especially vulnerable to flooding, since the existing water cannot drain before the storm flows to the shore.
“Particularly, we have some back bays that are in Sussex County, Delaware, as well as Barnegat Bay and some back bays in Monmouth County as well,” Johnson said.
She recommended people do what they can now to protect their property and move cars to higher ground, because the corrosiveness of saltwater can cause damage quickly.
“It’s important at this stage to find out where the other spots are,” said Johnson, “where there are places with a little higher elevation that you could possibly move vehicles.”
