Memorial Day Weekend At The Jersey Shore: What To Know For 2022

JERSEY SHORE, NJ — Memorial Day weekend has arrived, and after a long, cold spring people are eager to get out and enjoy some fun in the sun.

Towns up and down the Jersey Shore are ready to welcome the influx of beachgoers and boardwalk strollers for another summer season. As the weekend kicks off, here are some reminders and updates about the beaches, safety and other things to know.

The weather forecast appears to be favorable for a great start to the summer season. Rain and thunderstorms are expected to dissipate by midday on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures are expected to reach a high of 80 degrees on Saturday, upper 70s on Sunday and the mid-80s on Monday, according to the Accuweather forecast, with plenty of sunshine following the morning storms on Saturday.

If you're heading to the beach, here's what you need to know:

Beaches open ... mostly

For sunbathers, the main beaches up and down the coast will be ready and waiting for blankets and beach chairs.

A handful of beaches will have partial closures still in place as towns address erosion that happened during the nor'easter Mother's Day weekend.

Ortley Beach in Toms River, along with portions of the beaches in North Wildwood, Brigantine and Stone Harbor were damaged in that storm, which created cliffs in the dunes in some spots.

Stone Harbor officials were anticipating having their beaches repaired in time for the weekend, NJ.com reported.

In Toms River, the Township Council on Wednesday approved a resolution to spend $244,000 on beach replenishment for the portion of Ortley Beach that was damaged. Mayor Maurice Hill has said it represents about 25 percent of the town's beach in Ortley. The replenishment is anticipated to be completed by mid-June, when schools let out for the summer, Hill said Wednesday.

In North Wildwood, where there was a beach replenishment project underway before the Mother's Day storm, officials said the beaches between 7th-19th avenues should be avoided for Memorial Day weekend "as there are large piles of stored sand. However, if you do choose to go to those beaches, please try to avoid traversing the large piles, as they could be unstable. Space will be limited in between the water line and the stored sand," officials said.

In Brigantine, the south-end beaches will have lifeguards, according to city officials, but there were no notices publicly posted about closures.

>> Need information about beach badges or tags? Take a look: 2022 Jersey Shore Beach Guide: Beach Badges And Parking

Free entry at state parks

For those who love Island Beach State Park, plan to get there even earlier this summer ... or go later in the day. On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced the state was making park entry free at all New Jersey-owned parks, which includes Island Beach State Park.

Those who already purchased a 2022 State Park Pass will receive a full refund, but the free entry does not apply to those who bought mobile sport fishing permits; that fee remains in place.

Follow the Island Beach State Park Facebook page for closure updates when the parking lots reach capacity. You also can sign up here for text message alerts that tell when the park is at capacity

Weed's legal ... but you can't smoke it here

While many people are indulging in now-legal adult recreational cannabis, there are still rules about where it can and can't be smoked. One of the "can't smoke it here" places? New Jersey's beaches.

That's because of a law Murphy signed in 2018 banning smoking of any kind on the state's beaches. Some towns also have ordinances in place about public consumption, so make sure you know the rules before you light up in public.

Safety first for a happy summer vacation

Lifeguards will be in place on many of the beaches at the Jersey Shore this weekend because it's the kickoff for the summer season. For lifeguards to be able to do their jobs to the best of their abilities, beachgoers need to follow some basic rules and courtesies.

That begins with listening to the lifeguards. There are stories every summer about beachgoers arguing with lifeguards about everything from not digging large holes to getting out of the water or off the beach when there are dangers.

The end of the 2021 summer season brought with it a number of tragedies, and there have been some to start this beach season as well. With that in mind, here are reminders everyone should heed to make this beach season the best one yet:

Swim only on beaches staffed with lifeguards. That means don't swim after the guards leave for the day, or before they arrive. The ocean is powerful, and even the best swimmers can get in trouble in a matter of seconds.

That's what happened last fall: first responders had to rescue dozens of people during a September weekend where people swam on unguarded beaches. Two people died as a result.

Heed rip current warnings. The beach rescues in September (and some to begin this season) were caused when people got caught in rip currents. Rip currents are survivable; if you get caught in one, it's imperative that you not panic. Don't fight the pull; instead swim parallel to the beach until you are free of it. Read more here: Rip Currents: What To Look For, How To Survive Them

Lightning kills; get off the beach if you're told to do so. One of the biggest arguments lifeguards face is people refusing to leave the beach when a thunderstorm/lightning warning has been issued. Every summer, there are lightning strikes that injure and sometimes kill people on the beach, and it can be especially dangerous when the skies nearby are clear. That was the case when a 19-year-old lifeguard was killed by a lightning strike in Berkeley Township last summer. Six other people were injured by lightning strikes that same day.

Some towns are purchasing lightning warning systems that have sirens and loudspeakers to announce the warning and take the burden off their lifeguards from dealing with beachgoers who refuse to budge. Brick and Toms River are among towns buying the systems, frequently used at golf courses to warn golfers. They hope to have them in place before the beach season really heats up.

Don't dig deep holes. Digging in sand is a favorite pasttime of children and even some adults. It is very important, however, to not dig large holes, because of the potential for the holes to collapse. An 8-foot hole that collapsed on a Maine 18-year-old and his sister, killing him, has prompted renewed warnings and urging from officials for people to monitor the size. Don't dig more than knee-deep and be sure you fill in the hole at the end of your beach day, because the holes pose a danger to vehicles patrolling the beach.