Wind advisory issued for Monmouth and Ocean counties; coastal flood warning for Ocean

Wind gusts of up to 50 mph are possible during tonight’s storm, which could also result in one to two feet of flooding in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways during high tide overnight, according to the National Weather Service.

A wind advisory has been issued by the weather service in Mount Holly for Monmouth and Ocean counties, in addition to a coastal flood warning for Ocean, and a coastal flood watch and advisory for Monmouth, the weather service said.

The winds are expected to pick up later today. The wind advisory for both counties is in effect from 8 p.m. today to 5 a.m. Saturday.

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Sustained southeast winds of 20 to 30 mph are forecast, according to the weather service.

These winds have the potential to blow around loose, lightweight outdoor objects. Moreover, because the earth is saturated with rainwater from Tuesday night’s storm, trees and utility poles may be more vulnerable to the force of strong winds. The public should prepare for localized power outages.

Additionally, the weather service has warned that because so many rivers, creeks and other waterways were flooded from the storm earlier this week, all that extra water may not have completely receded. That means the potential for more flooding is a real threat tonight.

The coastal flooding warning for Ocean is in effect from 6 p.m. today to 7 p.m. Saturday. The coastal flood watch in Monmouth is in effect from 7 p.m. today to 7 a.m. Saturday; with the flood advisory in effect from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in Monmouth.

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On Thursday evening, Berkeley Police were suggesting that residents who live in flood-prone areas might want to consider moving their cars to higher ground.

Residents with homes near Barnegat Bay on the mainland are advised they may move their vehicles to the lower parking lot at Central Regional Middle School on Forest Hills Parkway. Residents in the township’s South Seaside Park neighborhood on the northern barrier island, may park their vehicles in the overflow (gravel) parking lot at the old Berkeley Seafood site, just east of the entrance to Island Beach State Park, according to police.

Contact Asbury Park Press reporter Erik Larsen at earsen@gannettnj.com.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Wind advisory issued for Monmouth and Ocean counties; coastal flooding risk rising