Some beaches at the Jersey Shore were still closed by daybreak Friday after the fringes of Hurricane Erin passed by, creating strong ocean swells that prompted warnings for rip currents.
Police in Wildwood and Wildwood Crest on Friday morning expected their towns’ beaches to be closed for at least a portion of the day for debris to be cleared. Officials in both towns urged residents and tourists to avoid the beaches and expected to have more information about reopening them later Friday.
Wildwood Crest Mayor Don Cabrera was touring the borough’s beach Friday morning to assess the storm’s impacts. He anticipated the beaches being closed most of the day to prepare for weekend.
Avalon also announced that several access points were closed Friday morning: 10th, 11th, 14th, 15th and 16th streets. The town’s public works department is working to reopen them.
Cabrera said debris on the sand ranged from lifeguard stands to beach chair rental stands.
“A lot of that stuff was moved because the tides came up pretty high,” Cabrera told NJ Advance Media. “We don’t believe there was any significant damage.”
The National Weather Service said Thursday evening’s high tide brought the greatest risk of moderate flooding at the Jersey Shore.
There’s also a high risk of dangerous rip currents and high surf advisories in effect for the entire Jersey Shore through Friday. And forecasters are warning that rip currents will remain dangerous through Saturday as well.
Hurricane Erin prompted Gov. Phil Murphy to declare a state of emergency for all 21 counties.
Even though the powerful storm was several hundred miles away from the Shore on Thursday, its effects prompted at least 16 beaches in New Jersey to post red warning flags and ban swimming earlier in the week.
Many of those towns said they’d be monitoring conditions to make decisions about reopening once the storm passes.
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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
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