“Blowout tide” reported Monday afternoon
A blowout tide impacting the Great Bay in Mystic Island late Monday afternoon. (Photo: Roman Isaryk)
An Ocean County firefighter and photographer captured an image of a blowout tide scene in Mystic Island late Monday afternoon.
Roman Isaryk headed to the Great Bay to capture the sunset when he noticed something very amiss.
“It looked like someone pulled the drain plug,” the Mystic Island resident said. “Best way I can describe it.”
Clams were visible, and seagulls were feasting, Isaryk said.
A blowout tide occurs when west-northwest winds blow water out of a waterway, producing unusually low tides, according to the National Weather Service.
On Sunday, the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, NJ advised of a strong northwesterly flow developing after frontage passage in the evening and continuing through Monday, potentially producing the conditions that developed along the Great Bay shores today.
In a tweet, Gary Szatkowski, meteorologist in charge at the Mount Holly office, confirmed the blowout tide conditions.
A strong frontal passage Wednesday afternoon could produce another blowout tide late Wednesday into Thursday, according to the service.
Forecasters say that marine interests should monitor tidal departures.
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