Atlantic City, N.J. – High surf and coastal flooding could create dangerous conditions along much of the mid-Atlantic shoreline beginning Thursday, with officials warning of roadway closures, rip currents and beach erosion stretching from Cape May to the Virginia Tidewater.
According to the National Weather Service, a Coastal Flood Watch takes effect Thursday afternoon and will remain in place through Friday evening for coastal New Jersey, Delaware beaches, Long Island, and parts of Maryland and Virginia. Water levels one to three feet above ground are possible in vulnerable areas, leaving many roads impassable. High Surf Advisories are also in place, with waves expected to reach 10 to 16 feet in some locations.
In New Jersey, towns including Cape May, Atlantic City, and Ocean City may experience widespread street flooding near back bays during high tides Thursday night and Friday morning. Farther south, Lewes, Rehoboth Beach, and Bethany Beach in Delaware could see waves topping 10 feet, making conditions life-threatening for swimmers.
On Long Island, forecasters expect 12 to 16-foot breakers Thursday, with significant dune erosion possible. Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island are also under a Thursday evening flood watch.
Emergency officials urge residents to avoid driving through flooded roads, secure property in flood-prone zones, and stay out of the surf. Lifeguards warn that rip currents can overpower even strong swimmers.
Warnings remain in effect through Friday, and additional advisories could be issued if tides rise higher than expected.
