HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — It may not be as strongly worded as ex-Gov. Chris Christie's famed "Get the hell off the beach" during Hurricane Irene, but officials in Jersey City and Hoboken are telling residents to stay away from the waterfront as a nor'easter bears down.
"Flooding, strong winds, downed trees, and power outages remain concerns as the nor'easter continues through the weekend," said Jersey City officials in a message to residents on Saturday evening. "Stay away from Jersey City's waterfront, including walkways and parks, until conditions improve. Strong winds and rising water can make these areas dangerous with little warning."
A coastal flood warning was issued for Hudson County until Sunday at 6 p.m.
Hoboken closed its waterfront walkway and four waterfront parks starting at 6 a.m. Saturday. While the rain had temporarily subsided by evening, the National Weather Service expects as much as 2.75 inches of rain to fall on Sunday, starting early.
The rain on Sunday may spike in the early hours of morning, before 6 a.m., forecasters say. With a 5.3 foot high tide in Hoboken at 9:25 a.m., that time may see the most flooding.
Officials warned residents not to walk into flooded basements or other areas, where there could be hidden hazards.
"Tidal flooding could worsen drainage problems even when rainfall is not heavy," Jersey City said. "Stay out of flooded basements. Water can rise quickly and without warning, and electrical hazards may be present."
The city advised residents to check on elderly neighbors or anyone who might need help.
See the links to track the weather at the end of this story.
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