The National Weather Service has posted both a Winter Weather Advisory and a Coastal Flood Watch for Stone Harbor for Thursday evening through Friday afternoon. A major winter storm that will cripple part of New England over the next 48 hours is expected to bring some rain, snow, strong winds, and the potential for coastal flooding to our region. The storm will move in late Thursday into Thursday evening as rain, switch over to snow during the overnight hours, and end with light snow Friday morning before sunshine returns. The prediction for snowfall totals for our region is between 2–4 inches. Cold air will follow this storm with wind gusts approaching 45mph and wind chill values on Friday at –4.
In addition, a Coastal Flood watch is also posted for our region. There could be minor to moderate coastal flooding at time of high tide on Thursday evening, and again on Friday morning. The Friday morning commute is expected to be the most troublesome with the potential for flooding in flood prone areas with snow on the ground, and strong winds. High tide on Thursday evening will occur at the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge between Avalon and Sea Isle City at 8:43pm; high tide returns Friday morning at 9:06am.
Please exercise caution while driving during this storm event. Please secure any outdoor objects before sunset on Thursday as they will be subject to strong winds overnight into Friday. Intermittent power outages are possible during this storm. If you have any emergency, please dial 9–1-1. Please continue to pay attention to traditional local media outlets during this storm event.
Here is the text of the Winter Weather Advisory and the Coastal Flood Watch posted Thursday morning by the National Weather Service:
Winter Weather Advisory
Statement as of 3:32 AM EST on January 02, 2014
… Winter Weather Advisory in effect from 6 PM this evening to
1 PM EST Friday…
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has issued a Winter
Weather Advisory for snow and blowing snow, which is in effect
from 6 PM this evening to 1 PM EST Friday.
* Hazard types… snow along with areas of blowing and drifting snow.
* Accumulations… snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches, with lesser
amounts in the far south and near the coast.
* Timing… precipitation should start as rain this afternoon
before changing to snow or a rain-snow mix this evening. The
bulk of the snow is expected overnight into Friday morning.
* Impacts… travel should become hazardous tonight as snow begins
to accumulate. This will be an increasingly fluffy snow and as
winds increase tonight… blowing and drifting snow will make
travel even more hazardous. Road plowing operations will be
affected… especially due to blowing and drifting snow.
* Winds… north 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph.
* Temperatures… starting out ranging between the lower 30s to
lower 40s this afternoon, then falling into the 20s and teens
tonight. All areas should be in the teens by daybreak Friday.
Where temperatures start out well above freezing today, flash
freezing can occur tonight as temperatures rapidly drop below
freezing and the snow increases.
* Visibilities… less than one half of a mile a times tonight.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A Winter Weather Advisory means that periods of snow… sleet… or
freezing rain will cause travel difficulties. Be prepared for
slippery roads and limited visibilities… and use caution while
driving.
Coastal Flood Watch
Statement as of 3:10 AM EST on January 02, 2014
… Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect from late tonight
through Friday afternoon…
* location… coastal sections of New Jersey from Raritan Bay…
along the Oceanside into Delaware Bay and coastal sections of
Kent and Sussex County in Delaware.
* Coastal flooding… the potential exists for moderate tidal
flooding especially along north coastal New Jersey during the
high tide cycle that occurs during the day on Friday. Some minor
tidal flooding could also occur with the high tide cycle this
morning as astronomical Spring tides are occurring with the new
moon.
* At Sandy Hook, New Jersey, high tide occurs at 855 am EST Friday
with a forecast tide level of 7.5 to 8.0 feet above mean lower
low water.
* At Seaside Heights, New Jersey, high tide occurs at 825 am EST
Friday with a forecast tide level of near 7.5 feet above mean
lower low water.
* At Atlantic City, New Jersey, high tide occurs at 832 am EST
Friday with a forecast tide level of 6.5 to 7.0 feet above mean
lower low water.
* At Cape May, New Jersey, on the ocean front high tide occurs at
906 am EST Friday with a forecast tide level of 7.0 to 7.5 feet
above mean lower low water.
* At Breakwater Harbor, Delaware, high tide occurs at 949 am EST
Friday with a forecast tide level of 6.5 to 7.0 feet above mean
lower low water.
* At Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, high tide occurs at 855 am EST
Friday with a forecast tide level of 6.5 to 7.0 feet above mean
lower low water.
* Seas… 6 to 10 feet on the ocean and 2 to 5 feet on Delaware Bay.
* Impacts… the potential exists for roadway flooding and possibly
some minor property damage. In addition any over wash has the
strong likelihood of freezing as temperatures will be and remain
below freezing. Strong northerly winds gusting to 40 to 45 mph
should occur. Beach erosion is also possible.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A coastal Flood Watch means that conditions are favorable for the
development of moderate or major coastal flooding. Pay close
attention to updated forecasts and statements and take
appropriate action to protect life and property. Follow the
recommendations of local emergency management officials.