NWS: Potential for 'at least' minor tidal flooding for several high tide cycles

Forecasters remain concerned about the potential for tidal flooding and heavy rain later this week as a coastal storm begins impacting the area on Thursday.

The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, NJ advises of at least minor tidal flooding “during several successive” high tides along the oceanfront, bays, and back bay areas from Thursday night through Saturday morning.

But the forecasters caution that “considerable uncertainty remains regarding the duration of onshore flow, the rate of intensification of the coastal low as it nears the region, and the ultimate track.”

A track closer to the region would decrease the probability of coastal flooding since the onshore flow duration could be too short and rainfall amounts limited.

But while the ultimate impacts remain unknown, the forecasters note that model trends have been downward with the strength and duration of the onshore flow.

At least widespread minor coastal flooding is probable for the Friday morning high tide and potentially Thursday evening on the northern and central New Jersey coast, according to the National Weather Service.

Forecasters remain uncertain for Friday afternoon onward since the full moon’s tidal influence diminishes and the offshore flow slowly begins.

With high seas Friday and Saturday, beach erosion is another concern.

One to two inches of rain, and wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour are also probably through Saturday.

All coastal residents need to follow the forecasts closely and take all necessary precautions.