Beaches at the ready on the Jersey Shore

All those winter storms caused significant beach erosion along the Jersey shore. But Stewart Farrell, the director of the Coastal Research Center at Richard Stockton College, says towns put sand back on the beach to make up for most of the damage.

All those winter storms caused significant beach erosion along the Jersey shore. But Stewart Farrell, the director of the Coastal Research Center at Richard Stockton College, says towns put sand back on the beach to make up for most of the damage.

“The average person going to the beach is going to see pretty much what they saw last fall and be perfectly pleased with the results that the communities have undertaken to clean up the debris and get everything all ready to greet them,” Farrell said.

Bill Karatz, the supervisor of lifeguards in Belmar, is keeping close watch on the ocean conditions.

“It should be cold,” he said, “probably in the neighborhood of 60 degrees. It should be calm although we had some rough water during the week.”

Officials say the weather will be the major factor in determining just how many people flock to the beach.