Jersey Shore beaches close as Hurricane Erin tracks near coast. See list
Mandatory evacuations continued Monday along parts of North Carolina's Outer Banks, where a state of emergency was in effect as the Category 3 storm barreled through the Atlantic several hundred miles from the Carolina coastline, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Hurricane Erin was sustaining maximum winds of 110 mph, with higher gusts reported, as the storm's path continued northwest, with forecasters at the NHC predicting Erin will turn away from the East Coast. Still, vacationers at beaches across the East Coast were forced to forgo the final days of summer sand as high waves and rip currents whip up the surf. Last week at the Jersey Shore, a 13-year-old girl died at Belmar beach and a 31-year-old Trenton man drowned as lifeguards pulled seven from the beach in Seaside Heights.
Here's the latest on beach closures in New Jersey.
Jersey Shore beaches closed
Jersey shore beaches that closed due to Hurricane Erin were announced Monday, Aug. 18, and affect Wildwood, Margate, and Bay Head.
At Island Beach State Park, swimming, surfing, boogie boarding, mobile sport fishing vehicle permit access, and nature center programs were suspended through at least Thursday, Aug. 21, the state park posted on Facebook. Visitors were still allowed to walk on the beach for fishing and other activities.
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A Facebook post from Atlantic City officials, meanwhile, told beachgoers that they are restricted to "knee-deep bathing only, no boogie boards."
The restrictions "will likely remain in place throughout the week," Atlantic City Beach Patrol Chief Steve Downey said Aug. 18.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy urged visitors and residents to avoid wading or swimming in the ocean, citing the dangerous rip currents and high waves.
"As Hurricane Erin continues to move through the Atlantic, we are anticipating dangerous surf and rip currents and possible coastal flooding," Murphy said.
Wildwood's statement noted the warnings in effect for rip currents, high surf and hurricane/storm conditions.
"These conditions make ocean entry extremely dangerous," officials said.
Erin is expected to produce life-threatening surf and rip currents along much of the East Coast over the next several days, according to the National Weather Service, aka NWS.
Tropical storm conditions and coastal flooding were possible in North Carolina's Outer Banks late Tuesday, Aug. 19, the NWS stated.
The storm is expected to make its closest pass to South Jersey on Thursday, Aug. 21, "bringing dangerous rip currents and high surf," the weather agency said. A small craft advisory is expected to be in place through Friday, Aug. 22 "as seas associated with Hurricane Erin gradually build, peaking up to 15 feet on Thursday."
Seas of 5 to 8 feet are expected through most of the night on Wednesday, Aug. 19, "with 10 to 15 (feet) seas anticipated Thursday morning through early Friday morning," it said. The churning surf should "gradually" wane into the weekend.
The restrictions are needed to protect the public, "including those who may be called to perform a rescue," the NWS statement said. People are asked to "please stay on the sand until the storm passes later this week."
"No lifeguards, no swimming. It's that simple," said Steve Mikulski, Wildwood's commissioner for public safety.
Advisories are to be updated on Facebook pages for Wildwood and the Wildwood Beach Patrol, as well as on the city's X account.
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. Jim Walsh of courierpostonline.com contributed to this story.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: List of New Jersey shore beaches closed as Hurricane Erin tracks near
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