Flooding Closes Toms River Roads, Parkway Exit: Authorities

Updated, 10 p.m.

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Flooding caused by a combination of high tides, runoff from Tuesday's nor'easter and storm surge, and Friday's oncoming storm inundated roads throughout Toms River on Thursday evening.

Flooding was expected to continue to be an issue Friday with the arrival of the second storm. Rain was forecast to be 1 to 2 inches, but wind is forecast to be the bigger issue, with gusts up to 40 mph by the evening.

The barrier island was significantly affected, with more than a foot of water covering Route 35 north and southbound. Low-lying areas along Barnegat Bay and along the Toms River were inundated as well.

In the Silverton section, the water was 18 inches to almost 2 feet deep in spots, Gregory Andrus of Portraits of the Jersey Shore told Patch.

Flooding also led to authorities closing Water Street and Irons Street, and Exit 81 from the northbound Garden State Parkway. A witness said the water on Irons Street was several inches deep and water covered half of the municipal parking lot behind the Music Academy, and water was over the bulkhead in Huddy Park.

Flooding was happening on Windsor Avenue east of Fischer Boulevard, an alert shortly before 5 p.m. said. In Island Heights, Ocean Avenue and River Avenue were flooded, the sheriff's office said.

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office and the Toms River Office of Emergency Management sent out several alerts Thursday afternoon warning people again to not drive through flooded streets.

"Please do not drive through flooded roadways," the OEM alert said. "Turn around, don't drown."

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