New Jersey woke up Sunday to another round of heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding as a slow-moving nor’easter continued to affect much of the state.
The Jersey Shore remains among the hardest-hit areas. Coastal communities experienced flooded streets, rough surf and dangerous high tides on Saturday, and additional flooding remains possible Sunday. In parts of the Shore, rainfall totals over the past 24 hours have reached roughly two to three inches or more.
Strong winds are also affecting large portions of the state. National Weather Service advisories call for gusts around 35 to 45 mph in several areas, while periods of heavy rain are expected to continue through Sunday. In northern New Jersey, prolonged rain combined with wind could bring down tree limbs and cause scattered power outages.
Along the coast, conditions remain more serious. High surf and repeated high-tide cycles are contributing to coastal flooding and beach erosion. Roads in some Shore communities were already underwater Saturday, with vehicles stranded in flooded areas. Offshore buoys recorded waves of 16 feet or higher during the storm.
A State of Emergency remains in effect for Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties. Gov. Mikie Sherrill issued the declaration Friday as the state prepared for damaging winds, heavy rain, significant coastal flooding and beach erosion. State agencies, including the New Jersey State Police, Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation, have been coordinating the response.
Northern New Jersey is also seeing difficult conditions Sunday morning. Coastal Flood Warnings cover parts of Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Union counties, while wind advisories remain in effect in portions of the region. The National Weather Service says vulnerable waterfront areas could see two to three feet of inundation above ground level.
The storm is expected to gradually weaken, but Sunday will remain wet and windy across much of New Jersey, with additional showers possible into Monday in some areas. Residents are being advised to avoid flooded roads, secure loose outdoor objects and continue monitoring local weather alerts.
Sources: National Weather Service, Office of Governor Mikie Sherrill, ABC7 New York, ABC News
By NJ RADAR Team