PROJECT ALERT NOTICE (NJ) Effects of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey

Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2012 14:41:01 EDT

Summary: Hign winds, heavy rain and coastal flooding are impacting New Jersey

Installation of storm surge sensors was completed yesterday. Two crews installed 11 storm surge sensors, 4 wave height sensors, and 7 barometric pressure sensors. A crew from Georgia installed 2 rapid deployment gages.

Governor Christie issued an evacuation order for barrier islands and coastal communities yesterday. Eastbound lanes on all roads heading to the barrier islands were closed yesterday at 4PM.

The Hurricane is expected to make landfall in the vicinity of Wildwood New Jersey between 8PM - midnight tonight. Rainfall amounts are expected to range from as much as 10 inches in Cape May to 2 inches in northern New Jersey.

USGS raingages have recorded over 4 inches of rain along the south coast. Only 0.1 -0.2 inch has fallen in northeastern New Jersey. Sustained wind speeds of 40-45 mph are being observed at Barnegat Light and Cape May with gusts over 65 mph. Wind speeds of 75 mph are forecasted for later tonight.

Waves have broken through the dunes in Atlantic City and on Long Beach Island flooding the streets. The Hudson River has overflowed into Hoboken and Jersey City. Many roads in southern New Jersey including the Garden State Parkway have been closed due to coastal flooding.

The peak stage during high tide this morning was over 8 feet NAVD 1988 at the Barnegat Light gage. Peaks at some USGS tide gages with 10 - 12 years of record on the Passaic River, Raritan River and Raritan Bay are above peaks of record but not above historical peaks recorded at these locations before our gages were installed. High tide this evening is expected to be higher. The record peak at the NOS tide gage at Sandy Hook is 10.1 feet MLLW. Tonight it is expected to reach between 12-13.0 feet MLLW.

This is mainly a coastal flood event in New Jersey. Riverine flooding in Northern New Jersey is not predicted to be too bad. The NWS is predicting minor flooding or less at flood forecast gages in northern and most in central New Jersey. Moderate flooding forecast for the Millstone River in the Raritan River Basin in central New Jersey.

Two teams are out making discharge measurements at new gages and one older gage on tributaries to the Barnegat bay and coastal New Jersey.

We've had communication with the National Weather Service.

Sub-Region: Mid Atlantic; Region: Eastern United States