High Wind — Mercer, New Jersey

2012-10-29 · Mercer, New Jersey

Wider weather episode

Post Tropical Storm Sandy was the costliest natural disaster by far in the state of New Jersey. Record breaking high tides and wave action combined with sustained winds as high as 60 to 70 mph with wind gusts as high as around 90 mph to batter the state. Statewide, Sandy caused an estimated 29.4 billion dollars in damage, destroyed or significantly damaged 30,000 homes and businesses, affected 42,000 additional structures and was responsible directly or indirectly for 38 deaths. A new temporary inlet formed in Mantaloking (Ocean County) where some homes were swept away. About 2.4 million households in the state lost power. It would take two weeks for power to be fully restored to homes and businesses that were inhabitable. In the Mount Holly warning and forecast area of New Jersey, Sandy was responsible for 24 deaths, 8 that are considered directly caused by the system: two drownings, five people killed by fallen trees and one person was blown over by the wind. Hardest hit were the coastal areas of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. As of late December, complete access to the barrier islands of Ocean County was still prohibited. It was expected to take until 2013 before rebuilt gas lines as well as the shore division of New Jersey Transit would be in operation. Approximately 230,000 residents of the state have applied for assistance from FEMA.

Tropical Storm Sandy formed in the Caribbean Sea on the 22nd of October. After drifting slowly southwest into the 23rd, Sandy turned to the north and intensified to a hurricane on the 24th just before making landfall in Jamaica during that afternoon. Hurricane Sandy continued to the north and intensified to a strong category two hurricane before making landfall again in Cuba shortly after Midnight EDT on the 25th. Hurricane Sandy emerged on the other side of Cuba during the morning of the 25th and proceeded to drift northwest as a category one or two hurricane as it moved through the Bahamas on the 25th and 26th. Overnight on the 26th, Hurricane Sandy (Category 1) started to move toward the north-northeast, a motion that continued into the evening of the 28th. From there, Sandy's motion became driven by two factors. An anomalously strong blocking ridge over the Canadian Maritimes prevented Sandy from escaping to the east. Simultaneously, an approaching and deepening extratropical trough was about to capture Sandy. The combination of the two, turned Sandy to the north overnight on the 28th and then to the northwest on the 29th. Hurricane Sandy received one last jolt of tropical energy as it passed across the Gulf Stream during the morning of the 29th. The lowest recorded central pressure of 940 millibars (27.76 inches) occurred when Category 1 Hurricane Sandy was about 110 miles southeast of Atlantic City at 2 p.m. EDT on the 29th. As Sandy continued to move northwest and interact with the mid latitude trough, its interaction continued to make it less tropical, but did not weaken it much. Sandy continued to make a harder turn to the left (west) and made landfall in Atlantic County as a post tropical storm in Brigantine City just north of Atlantic City at 730 p.m. EDT on the 29th. The estimated minimum central pressure was 945 millibars. The lowest recorded central pressure was 945.6 millibars at the Atlantic City Marina at 734 p.m. EDT. From there, Sandy continued to weaken or fill as it moved west. At 9 p.m. EDT, the low pressure system was in western Atlantic County and continued to move west-northwest. At 11 p.m. EDT, the post tropical storm (about 954 millibars) was located in southern Chester County. Post tropical storm Sandy continued to move west-northwest and weaken. At 2 a.m. EDT on the 30th, the 962 millibar low was located near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and at 8 a.m. EDT the 979 millibar low was near Altoona, Pennsylvania. From there, the rapidly weakening low pressure system moved northwest and reached Lake Erie (993 millibars) at 8 p.m. EDT that evening and from there drifted north into Canada.

Direct deaths caused by Sandy included: a 43-year-old Hunterdon County man in Asbury (Franklin Township) that was killed when a tree fell on him, a 61-year-old male in Princeton (Mercer County) was struck and killed by a tree while clearing his driveway of other trees, a 58-year-old male who was blown over by the wind and died in a parking lot in Hamilton Township (Mercer County), a 54-year-old male and his 48-year-old wife died after a tree landed on their pick-up truck as they were exiting it in Mendham Township (Morris County), their two children were also injured, a 51-year-old male was killed in Jefferson Township (Morris County) when a tree fell into his house, a 61-year-old male drowned in his house on Vanders Drive by the Kettle Creek in Brick Township (Ocean County) and a 72-year-old male drowned in the Mystic Island section of Little Egg Harbor Township (Ocean County). Both drownings were on the mainland side of Ocean County west of Barnegat Bay.

Other deaths that were attributed to Sandy included a 65-year-old woman who died of a heart attack while on an evacuation bus in Atlantic City (Atlantic County), a 73-year-old man who died from hypothermia after failing to evacuate in Brigantine (Atlantic County), a 93-year-old man who fell and struck his head while moving a car in Ventnor (Atlantic County), a 73-year-old man and his 70-year-old wife from a generator related house fire in Willingboro (Burlington County), a 69-year-old woman who was ran over by a municipal truck clearing debris in Sea Isle City (Cape May County), a male in Bethlehem Township (Hunterdon County) who also was struck and killed by a vehicle clearing debris, a 79-year-old male in Lambertville (Hunterdon County) who fell down and struck his head, a 59-year-old woman in Trenton (Mercer County) who died of carbon monoxide poisoning, two 55-year-old males in Edison and New Brunswick (Middlesex County) who both died of carbon monoxide poisoning, an 84-year-old woman who fell down stairs in Middlesex (Middlesex County), a 55-year-old male and 78-year-old woman in Middlesex (Middlesex County) who both died from smoke inhalation from a house fire started by candles, a 40-year-old male in North Brunswick (Middlesex County) who was struck and killed by a weakened tree on November 4th, a 61-year-old male who died of hypothermia after failing to evacuate in Long Branch (Monmouth County), a 94-year-old woman who died of hypothermia in Forked River (Ocean County), a 71-year-old male who died of hypothermia on Oakwood Drive in Stafford Township (Ocean County) and a 61-year-old male in Brick Township (Ocean County) who died after a tree stump fell on him as he was trying to remove it.

Prior to Sandy's arrival, Governor Chris Christie called for voluntary evacuations of barrier communities on the 26th. The Governor declared a State of Emergency on the 27th and ordered a mandatory evacuation of all barrier island communities. Approximately 115,000 people were ordered to evacuate and 15,000 people were in shelters. More than 2,000 National Guard troops were deployed. Tolls along sections of the Garden State Parkway and all of the Westbound Atlantic City Expressway were suspended. On the 28th, the day before Sandy's landfall, all gaming activity at the Atlantic City casinos ceased and the properties were closed. President Barack Obama signed a federal emergency declaration for New Jersey. Tolls along the entire northbound length of the Garden State Parkway were suspended. All State Parks and Historic Sites were closed. Late that afternoon, New Jersey transit began a gradual system-wide shutdown. On the 29th, the evening of Sandy's landfall, PATCO suspended commuter rail service between Philadelphia and southern New Jersey. All bridges across the lower Delaware River to and around Philadelphia were closed. Approximately 130 miles of the Garden State Parkway was closed from Woodbridge in Middlesex County to its terminus in Cape May County. The New Jersey Turnpike was closed in central New Jersey. Most schools were closed. The nuclear power plants at Oyster Creek (Ocean County) and Salem (Salem County) suspended operations because of tidal flooding. On the 30th, the day after Sandy's landfall, all 580 school districts in the state were closed. All courts and state offices were closed. Over 200 roadways were closed. Numerous boil water advisories were issued for the northern and coastal parts of the state, some that lasted into November. Atlantic City International Airport reopened on the 30th. Governor Chris Christie postponed Halloween in the state until November 5th. On October 31st, two days after Sandy's landfall Amtrak started limited rail service. State offices were still closed, but some schools reopened. Most major roadways away from the immediate coast including the New Jersey Turnpike were reopened. On November 1st, three days after Sandy's landfall Governor Christie rescinded evacuation orders for some of the Atlantic County barrier islands. The River Line Transit service between Camden and Trenton resumed. New Jersey Transit bus service resumed as did the Cape May-Lewes Ferry. On November 2nd, the governor lifted the evacuation order for Atlantic City and the casinos opened the next day. Evacuation orders were also lifted for Cape May County. Limited New Jersey Rail Service resumed. Because of power outages, lines for gas reached 100 cars long in the northern part of the state. The governor declared a limited state of emergency and imposed odd-even rationing for gasoline purchases in twelve northern New Jersey counties because of the shortages. They remained in effect through November 12th. The Environmental Protection Agency temporarily suspended some Clean Air Act restrictions. The entire state was also under odd-even water restrictions. On November 3rd, about 75 major roadways were still closed. On November 4th, rail service between Philadelphia and Atlantic City resumed. It was estimated that the average New Jersey beach became 30 to 40 feet narrower. It was difficult for people whose homes were uninhabitable to find rental properties.

Sandy produced record breaking outages, in the state, 2.7 million utility customers lost power, by far surpassing the record from Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Public Service Electric and Gas alone had power lost to 1.4 million of its customers in the state, twice the number of its customers impacted by Irene. The utility reported about 48,000 trees had to be removed or trimmed to restore power and over 2,400 poles had to be replaced. Both were two to three times the impact from Irene. Jersey Central Power and Light estimated that nearly 1.0 million of its customers lost power, about ninety percent of its customer base. This included hardest hit areas of Ocean and Monmouth Counties. Monmouth County had the greatest number of sustained outages of any county in the state. The utility had to cut through approximately 45,000 fallen trees. It was unable to restore power to about 30,000 of its shore and barrier island customers because of massive infrastructure damage to those homes and businesses. Atlantic City Electric reported about 208,000 of its customers lost power. Atlantic City Electric restored all power to its customers by November 6th. Elsewhere in the state, power restoration was hampered by a nor'easter that occurred on November 7th. Public Service Electric and Gas restored all power on November 12th and Jersey Central Power and Light by November 14th.

The unique aspect of Sandy and unlike most tropical systems was the multi-tide cycle increase of onshore winds prior to landfall. This caused multiple high tide cycles with tidal flooding and also helped produce catastrophic wave action. Record breaking or near record breaking high tides were exacerbated by the high astronomical spring tides associated with the full moon. Recording breaking high tides would have occurred regardless of the lunar tidal cycle in northern New Jersey. Sandy's landfall coincided closely with the high tide cycle on the evening of the 29th. On the oceanside, Raritan Bay and the lower Delaware Bay, minor tidal flooding started during the high tide cycle on the morning of the 28th, with some moderate tidal flooding during the high tide cycle on the evening of the 28th. Widespread major tidal flooding occurred during the morning and evening high tide cycles on the 29th. The highest tide (and surge) along the ocean front and Raritan Bay was with the landfalling high tide cycle on the evening of the 29th. The ocean front and Raritan Bay surge was 5 to 9 feet. A new all time record tide was set in Sandy Hook (Monmouth County). The tide reached 13.31 feet above mean lower low water before the pier collapsed about 45 minutes before high tide. An after the event survey performed by the USGS and Rutgers University determined that an estimated crest of 14.40 feet above mean lower low water will be used as the new record for Sandy Hook. The entrance to New York Harbor Buoy (a relatively new buoy) had record breaking seas of 32.5 feet. The Delaware Bay Buoy (about 19 miles east of Fenwick Island, Delaware) had seas that reached 24.5 feet. It was estimated that waves likely reached 12 to 24 feet along the ocean front with the largest waves along Monmouth County. Most of the surveyed damage to barrier island homes that were either destroyed or moved indicated that it was the storm surge and wave action that caused most of the damage. Either minor or no tidal flooding occurred with the subsequent high tide cycles the rest of the month.

In Upper Delaware Bay and tidal sections of the Delaware River, some minor tidal flooding occurred during the evening high tide cycle on the 28th, moderate (upper Delaware Bay) and major (the tidal Delaware River) record breaking tidal flooding occurred during the one overnight high tide cycle on the 29th as Sandy moved westward. The storm surge averaged 4 to 5 feet. The Admiral Wilson Boulevard in Camden was flooded and closed. The region was spared higher surges as Sandy made landfall in New Jersey and the winds prior to landfall pushed water down the Delaware River and Delaware Bay. Borderline minor to moderate tidal flooding occurred during the subsequent daytime high tide cycle on the 30th. Minor tidal flooding occurred along tidal sections of the Delaware with the high tide cycle on the 31st. Tidal sections of the Delaware River were spared significant runoff from the non-tidal sections of the river as the heaviest rain occurred in the southern half of New Jersey.

Strong north to northeast winds associated with Sandy started to spread across the state during the morning of the 29th from the southeast and east coast northwestward throughout the state. High or damaging winds started during the middle of the morning along coastal Ocean County. Highs winds started to occur across the rest of the southeast part of the state during the afternoon of the 29th and spread into the northern part of the state by the evening of the 29th. The southwest part of the state was affected the least by the high winds. Most of the peak wind gusts (between 70 mph and 91 mph) occurred during the late afternoon and evening hours as Sandy was making landfall. Most of the high winds in the state were over by Midnight EDT that night and as Sandy rapidly weakened, most of the strong wind gusts were also over by 6 a.m. EDT on the 30th. The highest measured wind gust in Mount Holly's forecast and warning area was 91 mph in Atlantic City (Atlantic County) at 355 p.m. EDT on the 29th. The most widespread measured hurricane force wind gusts occurred in northern Ocean County and in Monmouth County.

Heavy rain also occurred with Sandy. This made it easier for shallow rooted and leafed trees to be uprooted, it also complicated the tidal flooding. Unlike some of the more recent tropical systems to affect the area, the heaviest rain was not in the northern half of the state. Event rainfall totals averaged 1 to 3 inches in the northern half of the state and 3 to 7 inches in the southern half of the state, except 6 to 12 inches along the southern tier counties of Salem, Cumberland, Cape May County as well as coastal Atlantic County. The steady rain associated with Sandy spread into the southeast part of the state during the day on the 28th and slowly edged north. The rain spread into the central and southwest part of the state overnight on the 28th and spread into the northwest part of the state during the morning of the 29th. The heaviest rain fell overnight on the 27th into the early evening of the 29th in the southeast part of the state and during the daylight hours on the 29th in the central and southwest part of the state. The rain ended during the middle of the day on the 30th throughout most of the state, but lingered into the evening in the southwest part of the state.

Some county by county information is included in the ensuing paragraphs. They are in alphabetical order for the sixteen counties under Mount Holly's forecast area in the state. Inland flooding event information is listed separately.

In Atlantic County, the northern end of the famed Atlantic City boardwalk was destroyed. That part was planned on being removed. The wind damaged boardwalks within the city. The city was cut off from the mainland by tidal flooding after the morning high tide. Elsewhere in the county, heavy tidal damage was reported in Longport, Margate and Ventnor. Nearly every municipality from Egg Harbor and Galloway Townships eastward suffered widespread wind and or tide damage.

In Burlington County, a Mount Holly resident was trapped inside their home after a tree landed on it. Indicative of tree damage in the county, seven roadways were closed in Medford Township. Along the Delaware River, tidal flooding occurred in the Columbus Park Development along the Assiscunk Creek in Burlington City. The most widespread damage (mainly tidal and flood related) was reported in Bass River Township. In Camden County, about 70 large trees had to be removed from roadways. In Cherry Hill Township alone, twenty-four streets were closed. In Camden City, tidal flooding inundated Admiral Wilson Boulevard (U.S. Route 30) and Delaware Avenue. Rutgers University Camden Campus was closed until the 31st.

In Cape May County, nearly every municipality suffered widespread damage. The Ocean City Boardwalk was damaged, but survived. Ocean City and most of the barrier islands were also cut off after the morning high tide on the 29th. The wave action was so severe that the Ocean City-Longport (Atlantic County) Bridge was closed because boulders were pushed onto it. In Cumberland County, Gandy's Beach, Money Island and Fortescue were all evacuated because of Delaware Bay flooding. The most widespread damage in the county occurred in the eastern municipalities of Commercial, Downe and Maurice River Townships. In Gloucester County, the majority of the reported damage was flooding related.

In Hunterdon County, the roof was blown off an airport hanger in Alexandria Township. Nearly 90 percent of the county lost power. In Mercer County, the roof of Alexander Elementary School in Hamilton Township suffered wind damage. An abandoned building in Trenton partially collapsed. Thirteen major roadways in the county were closed including U.S. Route 206 and the New Jersey Turnpike. Over 100 homes were damaged by fallen trees.

In Middlesex County, the worst reported damage occurred in Woodbridge Township, Sayreville, South River and Old Bridge Townships. Most of this was related to tidal flooding in Raritan Bay and its ripple effects on the inland rivers including the Raritan. Mandatory evacuations occurred along the Raritan Bay and as far west along the Raritan River as New Brunswick. In Perth Amboy, evacuations included Water Street residents. Tidal flooding occurred in both Perth Amboy and Sayreville. A 336,000 gallon diesel fuel spill into Raritan Bay occurred in Perth Amboy. Both the Veterans Bridge and Morgan Bridge were closed in Sayreville. In Old Bridge, evacuations occurred east of New Jersey State Route 35 and included Cliffwood and Laurence Harbor. All of New Brunswick lost power and because of water supply issues Rutgers University canceled classes for the entire week. Homes were damaged by downed trees in Old Bridge and East Brunswick. In Morris County, nearly 90 percent of the county lost power. In Denville alone, 180 trees were knocked down.

Monmouth and Ocean Counties suffered the greatest damage from Sandy. Every municipality that bordered Raritan Bay and the Atlantic Ocean suffered widespread damage in Monmouth County and every inland municipality had at least some sporadic damage. Union Beach and Sea Bright were among the most hardest hit locations. In Sea Bright, many businesses were totally destroyed and the fishing pier collapsed. Both Spring Lake and Belmar had miles of their boardwalks destroyed. Some schools were damaged beyond use. Monmouth University was used as an evacuation center. The New Jersey Transit line will have to be rebuilt because it was severely damaged. Ferry service between Manhattan and Atlantic Highlands was suspended indefinitely. Miraculously the only Sandy related injury was carbon monoxide poisoning in Middletown. Like Monmouth County, in Ocean County, every municipality in the eastern half of the county suffered widespread damage. The two amusement piers that collapsed into the ocean along with the rides in Seaside Heights became the iconic symbols of damage along the Jersey Shore. Roofs of homes collapsed in Seaside Heights. The wave and tide action created a new inlet in Mantoloking and swept homes away. Houses were literally pushed off their foundation. Bay Head, Point Pleasant and Mantoloking were all devastated. The rupture of natural gas lines caused additional damage as house fires occurred in Mantoloking. Mantoloking was the last municipality to permit residents to move back. This was not permitted until late February of 2013. Damage progressively increased as one moved south along Long Beach Island south of New Jersey State Route 72 through Holgate. Tidal flooding affected houses on the west side of Barnegat Bay. The two drownings in the county occurred on the mainland. The Oyster Creek Nuclear Power plant in Forked River shut down because of flooding. It reopened on the 30th. Major flooding occurred as far west as Toms River.

In Salem County, tidal flooding climbed the walls of Riverview Beach Park in Pennsville Township. Some voluntary evacuations occurred in the township. Tidal flooding caused an automatic shutdown of the Salem Nuclear Power Plant after four of its six pumps failed. In Somerset County, sporadic wind damage was reported mainly in the southern two-thirds of the county. Both Sussex and Warren Counties suffered relatively less damage than counties farther to the east. The largest issue was fallen trees. The only township to report widespread damage was Walpack Township in Sussex County.

Peak wind gusts included 91 mph in Atlantic City (Atlantic County), 88 mph in Tuckerton (Ocean County), 87 mph at Sandy Hook (Monmouth County), 79 mph in Sea Girt (Monmouth County), Barnegat Light (Ocean County) and High Point (Sussex County), 78 mph in Brick Township (Ocean County), 75 mph in West Cape May (Cape May County), Harvey Cedars (Ocean County), Long Branch (Monmouth County) and Sussex (Sussex County), 74 mph in Pittstown (Hunterdon County) and Point Pleasant (Ocean County), 73 mph in Monmouth Beach (Monmouth County), 71 mph in Lakehurst (Ocean County) and Seaside Heights (Ocean County), 70 mph in Florence (Burlington County), Parsippany (Morris County), Perth Amboy (Middlesex County) and Cape May (Cape May County), 69 mph in Teetertown (Hunterdon County) and Wantage (Sussex County), 68 mph in Trenton (Mercer County), Stewartsville (Warren County) and Toms River (Ocean County), 66 mph in Absecon (Atlantic County), Cream Ridge (Monmouth County) and at the McGuire Air Force Base (Burlington County), 65 mph in Berkeley Township (Ocean County), 64 mph at the Atlantic City International Airport (Atlantic County) , 61 mph in Basking Ridge (Somerset County), Wall Township (Monmouth County) and Pequest (Warren County), 60 mph in Lumberton (Burlington County) and Ocean City (Cape May County), 56 mph in Woodland Township (Burlington County), 55 mph in Mercerville (Mercer County) and Somerville (Somerset County), 53 mph in Washington Township (Gloucester County) and 49 mph in Sicklerville (Camden County).

Maximum sustained winds included 68 mph at Sandy Hook (Monmouth County) and 61 mph at the Cape May Ferry Terminal (Cape May County) and Long Branch (Monmouth County), 60 mph in Bay Head (Ocean County) and 51 mph in Atlantic City (Atlantic County).

The highest tide reached a record breaking 13.31 feet above mean lower low water in Sandy Hook (Monmouth County) before the pier collapsed approximately 45 minutes before the evening high tide on the 29th. The previous record was above mean lower low water in Philadelphia. The previous record was 10.1 feet above mean lower low water during Hurricane Donna on September 12, 1960 and the December 11, 1992 nor'easter. In Atlantic City (Atlantic County), the highest tide reached 8.9 feet above mean lower low water during the evening high tide on the 29th. This was the second highest tide on record, the highest was 9.0 feet above mean lower low water on December 11, 1992. In Cape May, the highest tide reached a record breaking 8.91 feet above mean lower low water during the morning high tide on the 29th. The previous record was 8.8 feet above mean lower low water during Hurricane Gloria on September 27, 1985. Traveling up the Delaware Bay and into the tidal Delaware River, the high tide at Reedy Point (New Castle County) reached 9.1 feet above mean lower low water during the evening high tide on the 29th. It was the second highest tide on record, the record is 9.2 feet above mean lower low water set during the April 16, 2011 nor'easter. In Philadelphia, the overnight high tide on the 29th reached a record breaking 10.62 feet above mean lower low water. The previous record was 10.5 feet above mean lower low water during a pair of nor'easters: April 17, 2011 and November 25, 1950.

While there are no established benchmarks for tidal flooding levels at these other stations, the following is a list of the highest tides during Sandy. These may not represent the highest actual tide as there were power outages and some of the graphs plateaued at high crest. The tide gages whose peak crest looks suspect (and may be higher) are marked with an asterisk. At South Amboy* (Middlesex County), the highest crest was 9.0 feet above mean lower low water, at Keansburg* (Monmouth County), the highest crest was 8.96 feet above mean lower low water, at Sea Bright (Monmouth County), the highest crest was 13.79 feet above mean lower low water, at Belmar* (Monmouth County), the highest crest was 8.70 feet above mean lower low water, at Mantaloking (Ocean County), the highest crest was 6.99 feet above mean lower low water, at Barnegat Light (Ocean County), the highest crest was 6.54 feet above mean lower low water, at Ship Bottom* (Ocean County), the highest crest was 5.24 feet above mean lower low water, at Tuckerton* (Ocean County), the highest crest was 8.26 feet above mean lower low water, at Sea Isle City* (Cape May County), the highest crest was 7.94 feet above mean lower low water, at Stone Harbor* (Cape May County), the highest crest was 8.50 feet above mean lower low water, at North Wildwood (Cape May County), the highest crest was 7.65 feet above mean lower low water, at Cape May Harbor (Cape May County), the highest crest was 8.67 feet above mean lower low water, at Burlington* (Burlington County), the highest crest was 11.66 feet above mean lower low water and at Newbold Island (Bucks County), the highest crest was 12.27 feet above mean lower low water.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 417004. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.