Flooding Strikes Jersey Shore as Massive Snowstorm Wallops East Coast

George Gorman, deputy regional director with New York State Parks, says more sand is on the beaches now than there was before Sandy.

After dumping almost two feet of snow on the suburbs of Washington, D.C., overnight, the storm unexpectedly gathered strength as it slammed into the NY metropolitan area, and forecasters bumped up snowfall predictions to up to 30 inches (76 cm) by Sunday.

Further north, the forecast becomes much more uncertain.

High winds battered the region, reaching 70 miles per hour in Wallops Island, Virginia, late on Friday, and whipping up the tides, said meteorologist Greg Gallina of the National Weather Service.

Parts of Sea Isle City and Ocean City, New Jersey, reported flooded streets, and North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello said the flooding was so rampant it reminded him of what the area experienced with Sandy, WCAU-TV, Philadelphia, reported. Federal officials blame a weaker application than states like NY, which will get $212 million in relief aid.

“This has life-and-death implications and all the residents of the District of Columbia should treat it that way”, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said at a Friday press conference.

Regardless of the form in which precipitation falls, flooding and strong winds are the greatest concern at the moment, Thomas said.

High tides this weekend at approximately 7:28 a.m. Saturday, 7:54 p.m. Saturday and 8:11 a.m. Sunday could trigger moderate to major tidal flooding throughout the city, according to the release.

“Either way, we’re looking at a significant event”, said NWS meteorologist Frank Pereira.

Even so, there were no reports of evacuations along the New Jersey Shore, where thousands of residents had to abandon their homes during the devastating 2012 storm. While the county typically sees flooding during nor’easter storms, the current situation more unsafe than usual.

“I had more water than I had when Sandy came through”, he said.

Just before noon, the National Guard arrived to help the stranded drivers, the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Twitter account said.

The storm was part of a massive system that blanketed a large area stretching from Tennessee and Kentucky to New England. Officials warned people not to drive. “The mid-Atlantic coast is no stranger to coastal flooding, but really, nowhere are we as resilient as we need to be”.

New York City prepared with swift water rescue teams in place in the flood-prone areas of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Rockaway and strengthened barriers in key locations.