Beach areas preparing for potential late winter wallop

Emergency planners closely watching the forecast for a rough winter storm this week.  Sussex County Emergency Operations Center Director Joseph Thomas says this late-winter coastal storm could “rough up” Sussex, causing tidal flooding, tropical storm-force winds, and power outages.  Sussex is under a coastal flood watch from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday.  Tides could be at least four feet above normal and be accompanied by 60 mph winds and heavy rain.  

“The forecast is trending toward this being a very strong storm with plenty of negative effects, from coastal flooding and beach erosion to heavy rain and damaging winds,” said Thomas. “We have been fortunate this winter to have escaped the major storms that have affected places like New York and Boston. But there is still a bit of winter left, and these late-season storms can pack some of the toughest punches.”