3 Dead, At Least 150 Rescued Off New Jersey As Hurricane Maria Impacts Shore

The storm didn't come to the shore, but Hurricane Maria is already having a dangerous and even deadly impact on New Jersey.

At least three people were killed, and nj.com reported that at least 150 people were rescued over the weekend in the treacherous Atlantic Ocean waters. Indeed, rip currents continue to pose a serious threat as the storm continues to churn over the Atlantic Ocean.

That threat continued Monday in New Jersey, where a rip current alert remained in effect from Sandy Hook to Cape May.

The National Weather Service issued the alert, saying the surf height was supposed to reach four to seven feet. Low tide along the oceanfront Monday will be between 5:30 and 7: p.m.

"The threat for dangerous rip currents will likely be high for much of the upcoming week," according to the National Weather Service.

Local officials have done what they can to get people out of the ocean.

Mayor Matt Doherty, frustrated with the number of people who continue to enter the Atlantic Ocean, said 35 people were rescued from the rough surf just on Sunday. "Today Belmar PD told children not to go into the water because it's dangerous, only to have some parents override and tell their kids to go in," Doherty said.

Read more: Belmar Mayor Says 35 Rescued From Turbulent Ocean Over The Weekend

Belmar had even forbidden swimming on its beaches after the Long Branch death. She was pulled from the water on Sunday afternoon. They were the 33rd and 34th people to die since May.

Read more: 34 Die In New Jersey Water Deaths Since May As Trend Continues

Over the weekend, three fatalities were reported in New Jersey:

• A man drowned in Long Branch on Saturday. Firefighters pulled him from the waters off the unguarded beach at Seven Presidents Park on Saturday evening.
• In Point Pleasant Beach, a 60-year-old Waldwick resident drowned in the ocean on Sunday, off Jenkinson's Beach in front of the police department substation.
• In Seaside Park, a woman died after she was pulled from the water on Sunday afternoon, according to a report.

NJ.com also reported rescues in the following towns, besides Belmar:

• Long Branch (39)
• Sea Girt (24)
• Sea Bright (20-plus)
• Atlantic City (20)
• Manasquan (5)
• Ocean City (3)
• Seaside Park (2)
• Avon-by-the-Sea (2)
• Harvey Cedars (1)

Hurricane Maria, meanwhile, is expected to continue churning off the coast at least through Friday.

Currently a Category 1 hurricane, Maria will continue to track to the north-northwest away from the Caribbean early this week, but will eventually head out to sea, according to an AccuWeather release.

“Early this week, Maria will not be a threat to land," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dan Pydynowski said in the release. "However, as we move into the middle of the week, Maria may move rather close to the Outer Banks of North Carolina."

Here is the forecast for the week:

• Monday: Sunny, with a high near 80. East wind 3 to 7 mph.
• Monday night: A chance of showers, mainly after 5am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 67. East wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Tuesday: A chance of showers, mainly between 7am and 8am. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Northeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Tuesday night: A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. Northeast wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Wednesday: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Northeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Wednesday night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Photo courtesy of Matt Doherty