LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO EPISODE HERE
The late September 2026 nor’easter brought the Jersey Shore a problem that lasted far beyond one high tide: flooding that returned again and again, while rough surf wore away beaches.
On Tidal Flooding Talk, brought to you by the New Jersey Coastal Coalition, Joe Martucci, Palma Shiles and Dan Skeldon explained why the water stayed high, what homeowners can learn and how misleading storm videos complicate public warnings.
Six days of returning floodwater
According to Martucci’s episode recap, southern Barnegat Bay experienced 12 consecutive high tides with flooding — roughly six straight days. The Ocean City area had 10, while much of the remaining shore experienced six to eight.
The storm’s slow movement helped keep water pushed toward the coast. Skeldon explained that winds blowing from the ocean toward land had already raised water levels before the storm developed. The storm then strengthened that pattern.
That meant each incoming tide arrived before conditions had fully recovered.
Rain added another problem in parts of Monmouth County. Martucci explained that high coastal water levels limited drainage, while heavy rain added water to already flooded areas. Together, those conditions made flooding worse.
The lesson: coastal flooding depends on more than rainfall. Wind direction, storm movement and repeated high tides all matter.
Why a few inches matter
Shiles said the storm showed the value of lifting air conditioners and other mechanical equipment above floodwater.
“It’s not always just a hurricane that brings major flooding,” she said.
September also created a preparation challenge. Some seasonal residents had already left, while outdoor furniture and other summer items remained unsecured.
Drivers added another concern. Vehicles traveling through flooded streets create waves, or wakes, that can push water toward nearby homes.
“For someone that wasn’t gonna flood on their first floor, now you just pushed all that water right to their door,” Shiles said.
A vehicle’s ability to get through a flooded street does not mean the trip is harmless to neighbors.
The damage outlasts the flooding
Skeldon pointed to beach erosion as a lasting impact. Days of pounding surf removed sand before the main nor’easter season.
Martucci also explained why sand lost from a replenished beach does not automatically mean the project failed. That sand provides a buffer between waves and the community behind it. Evaluating its value means considering what the storm might have reached without that protection.
Check before you share
The hosts closed with another storm hazard: misleading images and videos.
Shiles urged viewers to check the source and the date and time of a post. Martucci encouraged people to judge weather sources by the accuracy of their information.
“Judge me based on the information we’re providing,” he said.
The episode’s takeaway is practical: prepare for repeated tides, keep vehicles out of floodwater, and verify storm posts before sharing them.
