Jersey Shore towns experienced significant flooding following heavy rain on Sunday morning, as remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia continued to impact the Northeast. The National Hurricane Center had downgraded Ophelia from a tropical storm, but it still posed threats of coastal flooding, life-threatening waves, and heavy rain from Washington to New York City.
Despite the downgrade, the storm’s swells were expected to affect the East Coast throughout the weekend, causing dangerous surf conditions and rip currents. Ophelia was forecasted to drop an additional 1 to 3 inches of rain over parts of the Mid-Atlantic and New England, with isolated river flooding also possible.
In New Jersey, several shore communities, including Sea Isle City, faced flooding on Saturday, and thousands of residents remained without power on Sunday. NJ.com reported that over 6,000 customers were without electricity on Sunday morning, down from a peak of 13,000. The National Weather Service noted that numerous communities reported coastal flooding, with many streets in Brielle, New Jersey, submerged during high tide. Coastal Delaware also experienced flooding and road closures.
The storm made landfall near Emerald Isle, North Carolina, on Saturday with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. As it moved north, the winds weakened, but the storm still caused significant flooding in riverfront communities like New Bern, Belhaven, and Washington, North Carolina. Videos on social media showed the extent of the flooding in these areas.
Even before making landfall, Ophelia proved dangerous. On Friday night, the Coast Guard rescued five people, including three children, from a 38-foot catamaran stuck in choppy waters and strong winds off Cape Lookout, North Carolina. A few thousand homes and businesses in North Carolina remained without electricity on Sunday morning.
In Greenville, North Carolina, police rescued a small pit bull from floodwaters. The dog was tied to a fence and nearly drowning when an officer responded to a call. Animal protection authorities have opened an investigation into the incident. Additionally, a rescue team helped evacuate 15 people from a campground between the Pamlico River and Chocowinity Bay.
The storm also disrupted events at the southern tip of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. The Beaufort Pirate Invasion, a weekend event centered on the 1747 Spanish attack on the town, saw its big tent for a banquet torn down by winds, with several other tents damaged or shredded.
Governors of North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland declared states of emergency on Friday in anticipation of the storm. Scientists have warned that climate change could lead to hurricanes expanding their reach into mid-latitude regions more often, making storms like Hurricane Lee more common.
In some areas, the storm’s effects were less severe. Aaron Montgomery, a resident of Williamsburg, Virginia, noticed a leak in the roof of his new home but was still able to drive to Virginia Beach for his wife’s birthday. He noted that while the surf and wind were strong, the rain had stopped.
In South Jersey, multiple shore towns flooded after torrential rain overnight and early Sunday morning. Meteorologist Andrew Kozak reported that thunderstorms dumped between 2 to 6 inches of rain along the shore, with more storms and severe weather forecasted for Sunday afternoon and evening.
Video shared with CBS News Philadelphia showed cars driving through flooded streets in Margate. The city’s police department urged drivers to avoid flooded roads and shared a list of flood-prone areas. At Winchester Avenue in Margate, several intersections were flooded, and two cars had to be towed out of the high water.
Jillian Hauser, visiting from Pittsburgh, was concerned about her SUV, which was partially submerged in water. Fortunately, she was able to get her car out without any problems. Residents noted that flooding is a common occurrence with many storms, and they have learned to park further west to avoid floodwaters.
In Ocean City, video shared on social media showed a pickup truck driver pulling a partially submerged sedan out of a flooded road. People were also seen paddle boarding along flooded streets. Parts of 24th Street in Ocean City were closed to traffic due to flooding.
Brian King, a resident of Mullica Hill, mentioned that the home they were staying in was not affected by the floodwaters, but a friend who was visiting got their car stuck. The car had about two inches of water on the floor and would not start.
In Sea Isle, the breakfast and lunch restaurant Steak Out shared video of submerged streets and sidewalks. The main threats with Sunday night’s storms included damaging winds, heavy rain that could create more flash flooding, and an isolated tornado. Storms were expected to arrive in South Jersey between 6-10 p.m.
The National Weather Service warned that minor tidal flooding was likely along the Jersey Shore on Sunday morning due to the approaching full moon and a strong low-pressure system. High tide was expected along the oceanfront in the morning and along the back bays later. Onshore flow beginning on Saturday allowed water to build up along the coast, but southerly winds on Sunday morning were expected to prevent significant floods.
The likelihood of flooding was expected to fade after Sunday morning. However, residents were advised not to leave their vehicles in areas prone to tidal flooding and to avoid driving through floodwaters, as the water may be deeper than it appears and could cause costly damage to vehicles.
Source: CBS Philadelphia, NJ.com, National Weather Service
