The impacts of the storm pattern will last through the weekend along the coast and it might feel like a full-fledged tropical storm. Warnings have been issued for coastal flooding, high surf with waves over 10 Ft, and high winds reaching 60 mph. This image of at the Ocean City Inlet from Robyn Phillips was on Thursday. The Inlet was closed at midnight and conditions will get worse over the weekend. So the erosion stories we’ve shared over the past few months will pale in comparison to the beating this weekend.
We’ve already established that Hurricane Joaquin will stay well offshore, but this is two-pronged system. This morning I showed the upper level Low reaching northern Florida will be enhanced by tropical moisture and a strong pressure gradient. Perhaps this is Neptune’s Trident with the middle prong being what it looked like a few days ago that would be both systems hitting us. So at least this is just one part, but it will be bad.
17 Foot Waves Already!
This buoy located offshore of Ocean City and DE Bay recorded a 17.7 Ft wave this morning and expect waves might push over 20 Ft high this weekend. I am highlighting Ocean City here for simplicity, but the impact across the Mid Atlantic may justify five states under State Of Emergency. A four-day tide chart is along with the official warning statements are at the bottom of this post. Two sliders here show the Near Shore Wind and Wave Model. Winds already have gusted over 50 mph and will continue.
Note, there will be fluctuations in the wind and waves, which could surge again on Sunday with the closest pass, although far away, from Joaquin. Note that the rain could stop at times despite the wind and waves increasing.
Near Shore Winds
Wave Model
[metaslider id=29360]
Ocean City, MD Tide Chart
Official NWS Warnings Below
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…COASTAL FLOOD WARNING NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY…
…HIGH SURF ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY…
* LOCATION: COASTAL LOCATIONS OF WORCESTER COUNTY MARYLAND INCLUDING OCEAN CITY.
* TIMING: WITHIN A FEW HOURS EITHER SIDE OF HIGH TIDE TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY.
* IMPACTS: INUNDATION OF WATER IN AND NEAR LOW-LYING COASTAL AREAS COULD LEAD
TO ROAD CLOSURES AND SIGNIFICANT FLOODING OF PROPERTY. THE TIDES AND WAVE ACTION WILL LIKELY RESULT IN BEACH EROSION.
* SURF HEIGHT: 8 TO 11 FEET THROUGH SUNDAY.
* IMPACTS: LARGE AND BREAKING WAVES WILL BE DANGEROUS TO ANYONE WHO ENTERS THE
SURF. THERE WILL ALSO BE DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS AND BEACH EROSION.
High Wind Warning
…HIGH WIND WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT SATURDAY…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A HIGH
WIND WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EDT SATURDAY.
* LOCATIONS…COASTAL SECTIONS OF ATLANTIC, CAPE MAY AND SUSSEX
COUNTIES.
* WINDS…NORTHEAST 25 TO 35 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 60 MPH.
* TIMING…WIND GUSTS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE TODAY…PEAKING
THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING.
* IMPACTS…CAUTION IS URGED FOR HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES TRAVELING
ON BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES. TREES AND TREE LIMBS WILL GET KNOCKED
DOWN AND CAUSE POWER OUTAGES. BLOWING SAND MAY COVER SOME
COASTAL ROADS.
* OUTLOOK…ADVISORY LEVEL WIND GUSTS SHOULD PERSIST INTO
SATURDAY AND POSSIBLY SUNDAY.
