High Surf in Eastern Monmouth, New Jersey

Hurricane Earl, which passed about 165 miles east of Atlantic City during the afternoon of September 3rd, generated large swells, heavy surf, enhanced rip currents and caused minor tidal flooding with the afternoon high tide on the 3rd. The heavy surf also claimed the life of one swimmer on the 2nd. A 20-year-old man drowned while swimming with seven friends off the 8th Avenue Beach in Belmar (Monmouth County) on the evening of the 2nd. They became separated in the rough surf and three others needed assistance getting out of the water. The body was recovered on September 4th. Many beaches were closed or had swimming restrictions in place. The highest tides reached 6.18 feet above mean lower low water (minor tidal flooding starts at 6.0 feet above mean lower low water) in Atlantic City (Atlantic County) and 6.78 feet above mean lower low water (minor tidal flooding starts at 6.7 feet above mean lower low water) in Cape May (Cape May County).