High Surf — Southwest Suffolk, New York

2009-11-13 to 2009-11-14 · Southwest Suffolk, New York

Event narrative

Severe beach erosion and cuts into the dunes occurred along the Atlantic Ocean facing beaches.

In the Town of Babylon...Ocean Parkway was left 150 ft. from tide line compared with 350 ft. previously. Also an estimated 200,000 cubic yards of sand was lost along a 10,000 ft. stretch of beaches. Damage estimates from locations in Southwest Suffolk County include $ 4 million at Gilgo Beach in Babylon and $ 4.2 million for Davis Park in Brookhaven.

At Robert Moses Field 4, 15 ft. were cut into the dune line. There was also erosion on the east side of Field 5. Field 5 may have to be closed next summer due to the lack of beach.

At Davis Park on Fire Island, 70 percent of the sand added to the beach in a community funded project was swept away.

Wider weather episode

A strong and persistent east northeast wind gradient existed over the region between strong low pressure off the Carolinas (remnants of Ida) and a strong high pressure system located over Eastern Canada between November 11th and the 14th. The tidal piling over several tidal cycles caused widespread moderate coastal flooding along the south shore back bays of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island and the eastern bays of Long Island. Minor to locally moderate coastal flooding occurred along New York Harbor and Western Long Island Sound. High seas and long period easterly swells also caused significant beach erosion along Atlantic Ocean facing beaches.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 202360. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.