Ocean City Under 'Moderate' Flood Warning Through Early Saturday

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Ocean City's flood watch for Thursday and Friday has been upgraded to a flood warning through 1 a.m. Saturday. The National Weather Service's warning forecasts "moderate" flooding, meaning homes and structures are at greater risk of inundation than during minor flooding.

The warning will take effect at 4 p.m. Thursday. Strong north winds are predicted to continue into Saturday, which may cause coastal flooding during the next five high tides. An NWS warning, as opposed to a watch, indicates flooding is imminent.

Short-term forecasts expect water levels to peak in the hours around high tide on the bay side of Ocean City at 6:59 p.m. Thursday. Forecasters project a tide of 7 feet on the mean low water scale, which falls into the upper end of moderate flooding — major flooding is categorized at 7.3 feet or more.

High tides for the next three days include:

• 6:59 p.m. Thursday (prediction is 7 feet)
• 7:25 a.m. Friday (prediction is 6.8 feet)
• 7:40 p.m. Friday (prediction is 7.1 feet)
• 8:02 a.m. Saturday (prediction is 5.8 feet)
• 8:18 p.m. Saturday (prediction is 5.4 feet)

Residents should monitor conditions and be prepared to move vehicles from areas that typically experience flooding. The roads closer to the beach including Central and Wesley avenues are at higher elevation. Parking will be available at the Trinity United Methodist Church at 20 North Shore Road in Marmora (read letter from Trinity if you take advantage of this service).

Never attempt to drive through flood waters. Don't drive around barricades.

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