The Ocean City Beach Patrol closed beaches to both swimmers and pedestrians about 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday (Sept. 18) as a line of severe storms approached the coastline.

Ocean City High School's Back to School night was postponed and rescheduled for 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 24. The Ocean City C-Cerpants cancelled age-group swim team practice, and other community events were postponed (let us know about other cancellations in the comments section below.

Atlantic City Electric was reporting power outages for 173 homes centered around Asbury Avenue south of 55th Street as of 8 p.m. Tuesday.

The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tornado watch for the entire state in effect until 7 p.m. Tuesday. The NWS warns of wind gusts to 70 miles an hour, hail to 0.5 inches in diameter, and the possibility of dangerous lightning.

The warning comes after a wind advisory was put in effect from noon to midnight on Tuesday. The NWS is also warning of thunderstorms and coastal flooding. Ocean City is also under a gale warning.

The New Jersey Office of Emergency Preparedness reminds residents that a watch doesn't mean a tornado is imminent, but it does urge residents to be alert and to seek shelter should a tornado occur or a warning issued. It also reminded residents weather warnings and watches would be issued throughout the day into the evening.

Winds were blowing strong out of the south on Tuesday afternoon in Ocean City creating storm swells, blowing sand and knocking over trash cans.

High tide at the Ninth Street Bridge is 10:41 p.m., and residents in flood-prone streets may want to consider moving vehicles to higher ground. The chance for rain continues into Wednesday morning with the sun expected to return on Thursday.