Storm Surge in New Jersey, December 11, 2003

The combination of an onshore flow and higher than normal tides from the recent full moon caused minor tidal flooding during the morning high tide on the 11th from Atlantic County northward. Heavy rain was also falling during the high tide. This slowed the discharge of rain water into the ocean and exacerbated the poor drainage flooding. Poor drainage street flooding occurred in Atlantic City and Margate (Both Atlantic County). The high tide reached 7.22 feet above mean lower low water in Atlantic City and 7.01 feet above mean lower low water at Sandy Hook. Minor tidal flooding begins at 6.7 feet above mean lower low water. The onshore flow was caused by the combination of a high pressure system that was over the Canadian Maritimes and a low pressure system that formed over the Tennessee Valley on the 10th and passed near Philadelphia and through New Jersey during the morning of the 11th.