Sherrill declares state of emergency in 8 NJ counties as nor’easter brings coastal flood warnings through Sunday

TRENTON / HUDSON COUNTY — Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency for eight New Jersey counties as a nor’easter brings damaging winds, heavy rain, significant coastal flooding and beach erosion, with the most severe impacts expected to begin Friday night and continue through Sunday, according to the governor’s office.

Executive Order No. 25 takes effect at 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, for Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties, the governor’s office said. Hudson County is not among the eight counties listed in the order.

“Starting tonight, this nor’easter is expected to bring damaging winds, heavy rain, significant coastal flooding, and resulting beach erosion, with these eight counties facing the greatest risk,” Sherrill said in a statement released by the governor’s office. The declaration activates the State Emergency Operations Center for coordination among state agencies and county emergency management offices, according to the release.

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly has Coastal Flood Warnings in effect for Jersey Shore, bay and tidal areas generally into Sunday afternoon. NWS Mount Holly warned of roughly 1 to 3 feet of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways, with widespread roadway flooding and some roads becoming impassable.

In Manasquan, officials recommended a voluntary Tier 1 evacuation for residents in non-elevated structures in low-lying, flood-prone areas, News 12 New Jersey reported. Borough officials said tides were forecast to run about 4 feet above normal and could cause major coastal flooding, according to News 12.

Hudson County is not covered by the statewide emergency order, but the National Weather Service in New York issued a Coastal Flood Warning for Hudson County — along with eastern Bergen, Essex and Union counties — until 6 p.m. Sunday. NWS New York said 1 to 2 feet of inundation is expected in vulnerable waterfront areas, with the highest water levels likely during Saturday morning and possibly Sunday morning high tides.

As of about 10 p.m. Friday, New Jersey utility companies were reporting thousands of customers without power, News 12 reported, without publishing a single statewide total. Separately, News 12 reported that an AC/DC concert at MetLife Stadium scheduled for Friday was canceled due to severe wind warnings and rescheduled for Oct. 2.

Sources: New Jersey Governor’s Office (nj.gov); National Weather Service Mount Holly Coastal Hazard Message; National Weather Service New York Coastal Hazard Message; News 12 New Jersey.