Ocean City Weathers Nor'easter With Only Minor Flooding

High tide passed at about 1 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 10), and Ocean City streets saw only minor tidal flooding.

A slow-moving nor'easter is expected to bring several days of wind and rain to the island, but the storm was predicted to peak with the afternoon high-tide cycle on Thursday.

Bayside streets and flood-prone areas of Simpson and Haven avenues were covered by tidal water in the afternoon, but all major thoroughfares (Wesley, Central, Asbury, West and Bay avenues) were passable to traffic. Some parts of West Avenue at the southern end were flooded.

On the ocean side, rough surf continued to erode beaches at the northern and southern ends of the island. Much of the new sand from a spring beach replenishment project is gone at Waverly Beach on the northern end. Waves ate further into a protective sand berm on a stretch of beach between 50th and 57th streets on the southern end.

The tide level at the Bayside Center (500 block of Bay Avenue) reached a peak of 3.81 feet (NAVD88) at 1 p.m. (see data). By comparison, the tide level at the same place on the same scale reached 7.25 feet during Superstorm Sandy in October 2012 and 5.25 feet during the nor'easter in November 2009 (see attached PDF for historical chart).

Steady rain and sustained northeast winds of about 25 mph hit Ocean City on Thursday. The rain and wind are expected to continue Friday and Saturday, possibly diminishing on Sunday.

A coastal flood advisory remains in effect until 5 p.m. Friday. High tide at the Ninth Street Bridge is 1:57 p.m. on Friday. Residents of flood-prone streets should consider moving their vehicles to higher ground. Waves heights in the surf of 6 to 9 feet should will continue beach erosion.

The Fall Block Party scheduled for Saturday (Oct. 12) will go on rain or shine. The fireworks set for 9:30 p.m. would be postponed until Sunday night in the event of rain or high winds.