Damages At 40-Plus Jersey Shore Beaches From Subtropical Storm

NEW JERSEY – A state report released this week shows that Subtropical Storm Melissa damaged much of the Jersey Shore and left more than 40 towns with erosion – and even some sinkholes.

The damage shows major and moderate erosion in Jersey Shore communities from the Oct. 11 storm – the culmination of "wave activity" that's pounded the beaches since Hurricane Dorian in late August, according to a damage assessment from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Sinkholes have even formed in areas such as Sea Bright.

On October 8th, the area began to experience the effects of a nor'easter developing off the East Coast moving towards the area south of Cape Cod, according to the report. Then, on October 10, the storm began to take on some tropical characteristics.

Some of the worst hit areas were in Cape May County, where beaches such as Sea Isle City had 50 feet of erosion. Monmouth County was also especially hard hit, where towns like Sea Bright and Parts of Long Branch had 25 feet of erosion. Long Beach Island lost 40 feet.

Here is how the DEP identifies the effects of erosion:

• Major erosion - Consists of significant or total beach berm loss and/or significant erosion and cutting (scarping) of the dunes
• Moderate erosion - Consists of significant cutting and/or significant sloped erosion of beach berm and/or minor erosion of the dunes
• Minor erosion - Consists of redistribution of sand within the beach profile or loss of sand without significant cutting or significant sloped erosion

Here is the damage assessment's list of beaches and the impacts: