Minor Flooding Warning Issued Along Jersey Shore and Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Minor flooding is expected to lead to road closures along the Jersey Shore and in Philadelphia as Hurricanes Imelda and Humberto affect the region.

The National Weather Service has issued coastal flood advisories for the Jersey Shore and areas along the Delaware River. The advisories are set to be in effect from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Shore and from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Thursday near the river.

Ray Martin, a lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly, explained that the ocean’s “long period swells” will contribute to tidal-piling along the coast and back bays. Additionally, stiff onshore winds will gust up to 40 mph in beach towns.

High tide along the Jersey coast is expected at 3 p.m., while the Delaware River will see high tide at 10 p.m. The river is forecasted to crest at 8.7 feet at Washington Avenue, which is about half a foot above the minor flood level.

As for the storms, Humberto, located about 350 miles north of Bermuda, is on the verge of dissipating with peak winds decreasing to 70 mph. The National Hurricane Center announced it would cease issuing advisories for Humberto.

Meanwhile, Imelda is positioned well off the Carolina coast with top winds reaching 100 mph. The clouds from Imelda have led to stunning sunsets in the Philadelphia region as they move away from the coast.

Robbie Berg, the hurricane center’s warning coordination chief, noted that the interaction between the two storms is “definitely a rare occurrence,” though he stated that determining if it is unprecedented is challenging.

In an unusual twist, this year marks the first time in a decade that no hurricanes have made landfall in the U.S. by this point in the season, according to AccuWeather Inc.

Looking ahead, the Philadelphia area is expected to experience clear skies and highs around 70 degrees, promising a pleasant weekend after the storm passes.