Coastal Flood in New Jersey, August 30 to 31, 1999

The combination of swells from Hurricane Dennis and a stiff northeast flow caused by a strong high pressure system building over New England produced rough surf, some minor tidal flooding and beach erosion on the 30th and 31st of August. Bathing restrictions were in place, especially in Cape May County where bathers were only permitted to go into the water up to their ankles. Eight to ten foot breakers were reported off the Cape May Beaches. A major contributing factor to the winds and rip currents was a very strong high pressure system that built into eastern Canada and New England on the 30th and 31st. The flow around it and Hurricane Dennis produced strong northeast winds. This kept the tides in, especially in the back bays and caused some minor tidal from around Noon on the 30th through the evening of the 31st. Many of the barrier islands experienced back bay flooding. On Tuesday the 31st, Atlantic City lifeguards were forced to put their rescue equipment on the boardwalk at high tide. Street flooding was reported in Sea Isle City. The pounding surf also caused erosion, especially in Cape May County. Hardest hit was Avalon, which lost about 100,000 cubic yards of sand ($700,000) between 9th and 16th Streets. The beach at Cape May Point lost about 1 foot of sand depth. Erosion also occurred in Brant Beach (Ocean County). The highest recorded tides included 7.1 feet above mean lower low water at the Cape May Ferry Terminal (around 1230 a.m. EDT on the 31st), 6.7 feet above mean lower low water at Sandy Hook (around noon EDT on the 31st) and 6.4 feet above mean lower low water at Atlantic City around 11 p.m. EDT on the 30th. As both Dennis and the high pressure system weakened, tides and winds subsided after August 31st.