Coastal Flooding in southern New Jersey

I want to pause and write about the northeaster that is slowly moving its way up the eastern seaboard.

This storm -- the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida -- has been affecting southern NJ, Delaware and environs for a couple of days with rain, high winds (gusts ranging from 40 mph to 59 mph), and severe coastal flooding. For those of you who are interested, the latest advisories from NOAA may be found here. In the event that the link expires, I am copying the flood advisory below.

A fishing boat, the Sea Tractor was lost in rough seas from this storm off of Cape May, NJ on Wednesday night. The Coast Guard has suspended the search. For more information, see this article.

Coastal Flood Warning


COASTAL HAZARD MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
239 PM EST FRI NOV 13 2009

DEZ001>003-NJZ012-013-016-020>023-027-140500-
/O.CON.KPHI.CF.W.0004.000000T0000Z-091114T1500Z/
NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-SALEM-
OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-
239 PM EST FRI NOV 13 2009


...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST
SATURDAY...


A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST
SATURDAY.


HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NORTH AND LOW PRESSURE TO OUR SOUTH WILL
MAINTAIN A NORTHEAST TO NORTH WIND ALONG THE COASTS OF NEW JERSEY
AND DELAWARE INTO THE WEEKEND. THE FLOW WILL KEEP WATER FROM
DRAINING AWAY FROM THE COASTLINE AND TIDAL DEPARTURES WILL REMAIN
QUITE HIGH. WATER WILL BE TRAPPED IN THE BACK BAYS OF NEW JERSEY AND
DELAWARE FOR AT LEAST ANOTHER THREE OR FOUR TIDE CYCLES.


WHILE THE HIGH TIDE EARLY THIS MORNING WAS LIKELY THE HIGHEST OF
THE STORM... MODERATE TIDAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED AGAIN DURING THE
HIGH TIDE CYCLES LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING AND EARLY
ON SATURDAY MORNING. AS A RESULT... THE COASTAL FLOOD WARNING
CONTINUES INTO SATURDAY.


FOR SANDY HOOK... NEW JERSEY ON THE BAY SIDE... THIS AFTERNOON`S
HIGH TIDE IS AT 451 PM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND 7.5 FEET
MLLW. THE HIGH TIDE EARLY ON SATURDAY MORNING OCCURS AT 526 AM
WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND 7.5 FEET MLLW.


FOR SEASIDE HEIGHTS... NEW JERSEY ON THE OCEANFRONT... THIS
AFTERNOON`S HIGH TIDE IS AT 421 PM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND
7 FEET MLLW. THE HIGH TIDE EARLY ON SATURDAY MORNING OCCURS AT
456 AM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND 7 FEET MLLW.


FOR ATLANTIC CITY... NEW JERSEY ON THE OCEANFRONT... THIS
AFTERNOON`S HIGH TIDE IS AT 437 PM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND
7 FEET MLLW. THE HIGH TIDE EARLY ON SATURDAY MORNING OCCURS AT
509 AM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND 7 FEET MLLW.


FOR CAPE MAY... NEW JERSEY ON THE OCEANFRONT... THIS AFTERNOON`S
HIGH TIDE IS AT 511 PM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND 8 FEET MLLW.
THE HIGH TIDE EARLY ON SATURDAY MORNING OCCURS AT 543 AM WITH A
FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND 8 FEET MLLW. WATER LEVELS IN THE BACK BAYS
WILL LIKELY RUN FROM ONE HALF TO ONE FOOT HIGHER THAN THOSE ALONG
THE OCEANFRONT.


FOR LEWES... DELAWARE ON THE BAY SIDE... THIS AFTERNOON`S HIGH
TIDE IS AT 551 PM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT OF 7 TO 7.5 FEET MLLW.
THE HIGH TIDE EARLY ON SATURDAY MORNING OCCURS AT 621 AM WITH A
FORECAST HEIGHT OF 7 TO 7.5 FEET MLLW.


FOR REHOBOTH BEACH... DELAWARE ON THE OCEANFRONT... THIS
AFTERNOON`S HIGH TIDE IS AT 450 PM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT OF 7 TO
7.5 FEET MLLW. THE HIGH TIDE EARLY ON SATURDAY MORNING OCCURS AT
522 AM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT OF 7 TO 7.5 FEET MLLW.


FOR REEDY POINT... DELAWARE... HIGH TIDE OCCURS AT 822 PM THIS
EVENING WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT AROUND 8 FT MLLW. THE HIGH TIDE ON
SATURDAY MORNING OCCURS AT 850 AM WITH A FORECAST HEIGHT OF 7.5 TO
8 FEET MLLW.


CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO IMPROVE GRADUALLY LATE IN THE WEEKEND.


PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...


A COASTAL FLOOD WARNING MEANS THAT FLOODING IS OCCURRING. COASTAL
RESIDENTS IN THE WARNED AREA SHOULD BE ALERT FOR RISING WATER AND
TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY.


DO NOT PARK YOUR VEHICLE IN A LOCATION THAT IS PRONE TO TIDAL
FLOODING. ALSO... AVOID ROADWAYS THAT ARE PRONE TO TIDAL
FLOODING.