DEP Monitoring Snow Storm Forecast, Emergency Sand Possible for Beaches

A coming storm could impact the already battered Jersey Shore, but the state Department of Environmental Protection is coordinating dumping emergency sand to help protect the shorefront.

DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said his office is in contact with shore towns establishing who has protecting berms in place and who may need emergency sand on their beaches.

Another anticipated storm surge in places without established dunes, wiped out by Hurricane Sandy, could become an issue in the forecast. Martin said his office is closely monitoring the storm.

If needed, emergency sand could be dispatched to at-risk beaches from the DEP and other agencies, Martin said.

“Whether through us, through FEMA, through the army corps of engineers, we’re looking at emergency sand,” Martin said at a Gov. Chris Christie press conference at Sea Girt Wednesday.

The forecast out of the Belmar-Farmingdale weather station of the National Weather Service:

Thursday: Partly sunny in the morning then mostly cloudy with a chance of flurries in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 30s. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.

Thursday Night: Cloudy. A chance of flurries in the evening. Then rain likely after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. East winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

Friday: Rain. Windy with highs in the mid 40s. Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Chance of rain near 100 percent.

Friday Night: Rain in the evening then rain likely with a chance of snow after midnight. Moderate snow accumulation. Very windy with lows in the upper 20s. North winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.