Noreaster Prompts State Emergencies, Flooding and Travel Delays

A slow moving noreaster pushed up the U.S. East Coast this weekend and into Monday, prompting state of emergency declarations, closing coastal roads and disrupting air and ground travel from the Carolinas to New England. New Jersey declared a statewide emergency that took effect Saturday night, and New York officials issued emergency measures for coastal counties as forecasters warned of moderate to major coastal flooding, damaging wind gusts and heavy rain centered on the Jersey Shore, Long Island and other shoreline communities.

The National Weather Service said the storm produced persistent onshore northeast winds that, combined with high astronomical tides and prolonged surf, would drive tide levels well above normal and produce hazardous surf and rip currents. Coastal water levels in many locations from Virginia to Long Island ran 2 to 3 feet above normal and were forecast to reach higher peaks during Monday afternoon high tides. Local forecasts called for peak bay-side water levels of about 7.6 feet in parts of Ocean City and an Atlantic City oceanfront high tide near 8.1 feet, levels officials said could cause major tidal flooding in low-lying areas.