Coastal Flooding Also Concern As E. Coast Blizzard Moves In; Will Arrive At High Tide
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While the snow is certainly the most notable and visual phenomenon, parts of the East Coast could also face a major storm surge event that could wreak havoc and up the damage. The fact that the storm is slow moving and showing up during the highest tides of the month means prolonged flooding is possible, particularly around the Chesapeake Bay and parts of New Jersey and Long Island. The National Weather Service Mount Holly, N.J. office, which covers the Jersey Shore and Philadelphia, is already anticipating a top 5 coastal flood event.
On Saturday, powerful winds in excess of 60 mph could whip up waves that could reach 30 feet. As they come ashore, beaches will take a pounding and face widespread erosion.
Models also show a current storm surge of around 5 feet coming ashore with Saturday’s high tide. In Cape May, N.J., the current forecast high tide mark on Saturday evening would be the third-highest on record while Atlantic City would come in at 10th in the record books, according to Stephen Stirling at NJ.com. That could push water inland and cause widespread property damage.
"Looks like water levels may rise 3-4 feet above predicted non-storm levels at Sandy Hook, Atlantic City and Cape May," David Robinson, the New Jersey state climatologist, said in an email. "The non-storm levels take into account the astronomical high tide from the full moon, so these are hefty totals. This may challenge past winter storms such as March 1962 and December 1992, but that would be considered worst case scenarios right now. This event will last through several high tides (unlike most tropical systems) but likely not as many as in '62. Thus if I was to pick an event that it might challenge best it would be '92."
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http://www.climatecentral.org/news/winter-storm-could-set-coastal-flood-record-19937
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