The National Weather Service has continued the Winter Storm Warning, the High Wind Warning, and the Coastal Flood Warning for the Borough of Stone Harbor. The major winter storm has arrived in our region, and snow began falling in the Borough around 4:00pm. Shortly before 5:00pm, moderate snow was falling in Stone Harbor with calm winds and currently no coastal flooding concerns; that will change over the next 36 hours.

A major storm will bring widespread moderate to perhaps major coastal flooding in some seashore communities during the two high tides on Saturday, and the morning high tide on Sunday.

Snow is expected to fall during the Friday evening and into the Friday night/Saturday morning hours with accumulating snowfall likely. The snow may change over to a wintry mix overnight or by daybreak tomorrow in advance of the high tide event. Please remember that snow on streets can cover streets that are flooded; extreme caution is advised while driving during this storm event, including at time of high tide. A changeover to rain is expected on Saturday before a change back to snow before the storm ends Saturday night or Sunday morning. There will be very strong winds associated with this storm event, with gusts to 60mph or greater. We anticipate heavy surf and beach erosion.

High tide will occur at the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge between Avalon and Sea Isle City on Saturday at 7:17am and again at 7:43pm, and again on Sunday at 8:00am and again at 8:27pm.

Residents who live on a street that typically floods during coastal storms should move their vehicles to higher ground. Do not park your vehicle on any bridge in Stone Harbor. Street flooding is expected during both high tides on Saturday, and the morning high tide on Sunday. Never attempt to drive on any street covered by water; this puts you, your vehicle, and emergency responders in harm’s way. Driving on a flooded street also creates an unnecessary wake that could cause property damage to homes and businesses. Water on a street is always deeper than you believe it is.

The High Wind Warning means that Stone Harbor will likely experience steady winds out of the northeast at 35-45mph, with gusts at 60mph or greater. This can result in downed power lines, downed trees, and other hazards in the roadway. Please take this opportunity to bring inside (or secure) objects prone to strong winds including patio furniture and trash cans. Contractors are asked to secure their job sites to prevent debris from being scattered through neighborhoods.

Power out­ages are pos­si­ble dur­ing this storm event due to the strong winds. If you expe­ri­ence a power out­age, do not assume some­one else has called in the out­age. Call the Atlantic City Elec­tric out­age num­ber at 1–800-833-7476. You may also visit opens in a new windowwww.atlanticcityelectric.com to the view the cur­rent out­age map for their ser­vice area. If you have any emer­gency, please dial 911.

Here is the update for the Delaware Valley provided by the National Weather Service Office in Mt. Holly, NJ. This PDF represents storm impacts from the Poconos through the southern shore region:Natiional Weather Service Storm Update January 22 4pm

Here is the updated forecast courtesy of the National Weather Service:

Tonight: Rain, snow, and sleet before 2am, then rain and sleet between 2am and 4am, then rain after 4am. Low around 31. Windy, with a northeast wind 15 to 25 mph increasing to 26 to 36 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 48 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.
Saturday: Rain before 7am, then rain and sleet between 7am and 10am, then rain after 10am. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 41. Very windy, with a northeast wind 34 to 40 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Saturday Night: Snow. Areas of blowing snow between 1am and 4am. Low around 26. Windy, with a north wind 33 to 38 mph decreasing to 26 to 31 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Sunday: Snow likely, mainly before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a northwest wind 13 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

The National Weather Service has updated its forecast this morning to now include a Winter Storm Warning, a Coastal Flood Warning, and a High Wind Warning for our region. These warnings are in effect for various times this weekend as a winter storm approaches our community. The Winter Storm Warning is in effect from Friday evening through Sunday morning; the Coastal Flood Warning is in effect from early Saturday morning through Sunday at Noon; and the High Wind Warning is in effect from Friday evening through Saturday night. We expect to receive accumulating snowfall from this storm, potentially four to eight inches depending on mixing with sleet and rain on Saturday; wind gusts of 60mph or potentially higher; and moderate coastal flooding during times of high tide on Saturday, and again on Sunday morning.

The storm is expected to begin with a chance of snow sometime after 5:00pm on Friday with some accumulation before the changeover late tonight. A mixture of rain, sleet, and snow is expected during the overnight hours with increasing winds. During the daytime on Saturday, strong winds, heavy rain and flooding is expected at times of high tide. Saturday night, snow re-develops and is expected to end sometime Sunday morning around daybreak. The forecast calls for most of our accumulating snow to be at the end of this storm. Coastal flooding is also likely during high tide on Sunday morning.

High tide will occur at the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge between Avalon and Sea Isle City on Saturday at 7:17am and again at 7:43pm, and again on Sunday at 8:00am and again at 8:27pm. The forecast predicts moderate coastal flooding throughout flood-prone areas in our community.

Residents who live on a street that typically floods during coastal storms should move their vehicles to higher ground. Do not move your vehicle onto any bridge in town.  Street flooding is expected during both high tides on Saturday, and the morning high tide on Sunday. Never attempt to drive on any street covered by water; this puts you, your vehicle, and emergency responders in harm’s way. Driving on a flooded street also creates an unnecessary wake that could cause property damage to homes and businesses. Water on a street is always deeper than you believe it is.

The High Wind Warning means that Stone Harbor will likely experience steady winds out of the northeast at 35-45mph, with gusts at 60mph or greater. This can result in downed power lines, downed trees, and other hazards in the roadway. Please take this opportunity to bring inside (or secure) objects prone to strong winds including patio furniture and trash cans. Contractors are asked to secure their job sites to prevent debris from being scattered through neighborhoods.

Power out­ages are pos­si­ble dur­ing this storm event due to the strong winds. If you expe­ri­ence a power out­age, do not assume some­one else has called in the out­age. Call the Atlantic City Elec­tric out­age num­ber at 1–800-833-7476. You may also visit www.atlanticcityelectric.com to the view the cur­rent out­age map for their ser­vice area. If you have any emer­gency, please dial 911.

Updates are available on this website throughout this storm, along with Channel 97 and traditional media outlets.

Here is the updated weather forecast on Friday morning, January 22nd, from the National Weather Service:

Today: A chance of snow after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 33. Northeast wind 9 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.
Tonight: Rain, snow, and sleet before 2am, then rain and sleet between 2am and 4am, then rain after 4am. Low around 32. Windy, with a northeast wind 17 to 27 mph increasing to 28 to 38 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Saturday: Rain. High near 41. Very windy, with a northeast wind 39 to 41 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Saturday Night: Snow. Areas of blowing snow between 1am and 4am. Low around 27. Windy, with a north wind 30 to 38 mph, with gusts as high as 55 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Sunday: Snow likely, mainly before 7am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 35. Breezy, with a northwest wind 16 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.