Coastal flooding is expected at the Jersey Shore through Saturday, and high-tide flooding is also forecast along the Delaware River. The National Weather Service warned Wednesday that some roadways could become impassable as the storm develops off the Southeast coast.
John Gyakum, a coastal-storm expert at McGill University, called the system “unusual” because it is arriving so soon in autumn, saying it is “that we haven’t experienced in quite a while.” The warnings come before any rain reaches the area, with the first impacts tied to tide cycles and gusty winds.
Jersey Shore flood warnings
The National Weather Service said moderate flooding could begin on the oceanfront at 7 p.m. Thursday evening and continue for 4 consecutive high-tide cycles. It forecast back bay flooding Friday evening and Saturday morning, with winds gusting to 45 mph at the beaches and 35 mph inland.
At the moderate level, many roads can become impassable and some houses could incur damage. Ocean City advised residents to move vehicles to safe places, and the Army Corps of Engineers moved beach-fill equipment in Avalon and Ocean City to safe harbors on Wednesday.
Delaware River high tides
Along the Delaware River, the weather service issued an advisory for flooding expected to reach moderate levels Friday and Saturday. It predicted moderate flooding at the 1 a.m. Friday high tide, then again at 2 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday.
No rain is expected until the weekend, but the weather service has a chance of rain in the immediate Philly region and at the Shore. Winds are likely to stay breezy through the weekend, and they are forecast to turn more northerly rather than blow hard onshore.
Weekend track of the storm
The main uncertainty is whether the storm will jog westward toward the coast or stay farther out to sea. That path will determine how much rain reaches the region and how long flooding stays elevated along the shoreline and riverfront.
For residents and road users, the practical step is simple: move vehicles, avoid low-lying roads at high tide, and expect the worst flood risk around the listed tide windows rather than after the rain starts.
