Ocean City Floods Less Than Expected Sunday And Monday

OCEAN CITY, NJ — It appears Ocean City lucked out. Although the area remains under flood watch until 5 p.m. Monday, tide levels have fallen short of National Weather Service projections.

The NWS predicted that tide levels would be as high as when much of the island flooded last month. Forecasters projected a tide of 6.7 feet on the mean low water scale (MLW) for Sunday morning, which constitutes "moderate" flooding. By comparison, flooding on Oct. 11 reached 6.64 feet.

But the tide level only reached 5.75 feet, which makes a significant difference. Minor flooding represents 5.3-6.3 feet on the MLW for the area.

The final high tide during the warning took place at around noon Monday. Forecasters predicted a 6.7-foot tide for 12:07 p.m. Monday. It peaked at only 6.05 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Moderate flooding indicates widespread flooding to the point that many Ocean City and Somers Point roadways become impassible. The NOAA categorizes minor flooding as that with minimal or no property damage.

But if you do encounter flooding — today or in the future — don't drive through flood waters and don't drive around barricades. For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, call 609-399-9111.

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