“Blowout tide” reported this afternoon
A southern Ocean County photographer captured an image of a blowout tide scene this afternoon in Mystic Island.
Rob Libonati says he’s never seen his lagoon so low as of 2 p.m.
“All my years here in Mystic Island, I have never seen a blowout tide as bad as it is right now,” he said. “No water at all in my part of the lagoon.”
The publisher of a Mystic Island community page on Facebook, says the water will return with high tide and when the offshore winds die down.
A blowout tide occurs when west-northwest winds blow water out of a waterway, producing unusually low tides, according to the National Weather Service.
While not regular, blowout tides do occur on occasion.
Earlier today, the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, NJ advised of low tidal water levels. Forecasters say that marine interests should monitor tidal departures.
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