A powerful nor’easter is bearing down on New Jersey this weekend, with flooding already reported in parts of the state and a voluntary evacuation issued for certain areas. Landfall is expected by Sunday, bringing heavy rain, wind gusts up to 60 mph, and the risk of major coastal flooding through Monday.
f you were betting this weekend’s storm might miss New Jersey, well, you can keep the hope alive, but it’s not looking good.
A nor’easter is bringing extended rain, wind, and coastal flooding to New Jersey from Friday through Monday morning as a storm intensifies 200 miles off the North Carolina coast, moving north.
For New Jersey, landfall is expected by Sunday, but some of the most severe impacts are already being seen.
The Weather Channel reported on Friday morning that Ocean City, New Jersey streets were already flooding. Manasquan officials issued a Tier 1 voluntary evacuation “for residents in non-elevated structures located in low-lying flood-prone areas, particularly the elderly and special needs persons.” An update is expected at 4 p.m.
Tides are forecasting four feet above normal, increasing the risk of major coastal flooding. Drivers should avoid flooded or barricaded streets.
The Latest Storm Timeline
Friday is dry in the low 70s, with rain and winds picking up at night.
Saturday morning brings the first major hit of the storm with heavy rain, wind, and possible outages across the state. Conditions are expected to calm at night with temperatures in the 50s. But the calm is only temporary—another hit comes on Sunday with peak wind speeds, according to NJ 101.5.
The storm is expected to clear by midday Monday with sunshine and 70s returning on Tuesday.
Rain will vary anywhere from 1.5 to 4 inches depending on the area. Wind gusts are expected to reach 60 mph at the coast. At the shore, waves could tower as high as 12 feet, with offshore waves hitting up to 25 feet, according to Washington Post. Residents of flood-prone areas are encouraged to follow local guidelines.
Storms can change on a dime. Track the latest forecast for your area here.
Lifelong Jersey resident and Rutgers and FDU alumnus, Tom La Vecchia is publisher of New Jersey Digest, one of the state’s leading lifestyle media brands. When he’s not growing the Digest, he’s raising four kids, wrangling four cats and pretending it’s all under control. His mission: keep Jersey interesting and impossible to ignore.
