Monday, September 10, 2012
The storm is expected to make landfall Tuesday at Newfoundland.
Tropical Storm Leslie passed Ocean City's latitude on Monday afternoon on its march up the Atlantic Ocean. The distant storm — which had hurricane strength over the weekend — did not spoil a beautiful fall-like day in Ocean City, but it did send a last round of chest-high waves to the Jersey Shore. On Monday, Leslie had maximum sustained winds of 58 mph, and forecasters predict the storm is on a track to hit Newfoundland sometime on Tuesday. Surfers in Ocean City enjoyed clean conditions on Monday with an offshore wind making for glassy water between sets. The north-end beaches saw cleaner lines than some of the downtown beaches, where the breaks were closing out. Ocean City could possibly see another day of swell out of Leslie, and the …
Saturday, August 4, 2012
A growing array of beach and boardwalk cams provide a real-time glimpse of weather, waves and crowds.
When Bob Dylan wrote famously that "you don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows," he wasn't trying to get an Ocean City beach report from the mainland. Otherwise, he would know that you need a weatherman and more — preferably a friend on the beach with a cell phone. But a growing collection of video cameras are now pointed at Ocean City beaches, boardwalks and roads, and they provide the next best thing to eyewitness reports: live images delivered across the Internet in real time to homes anywhere in the world. The beach cams provide vital information on weather and surf conditions on a barrier island that has a climate of its own. Depending on ocean temperature and the wind, Ocean City's weather conditions can differ …
The wind, waves and weather for Saturday, Aug. 4.
The ocean temperature topped 80 degrees late Friday, and the tropical temperatures should stick around for Saturday. The ocean is warm, but should still provide relief on a mostly sunny day with a forecasted high air temperature of 87 degrees. A south wind should gather strength through the day and keep the ocean choppy with strong cross-currents. The south swell generated some three-foot waves on Friday, but the surf had little form in washing-machine conditions. High tide is at 9:46 a.m., and low tide at 3:52 p.m. In the Caribbean Sea, Tropical Storm Ernesto appears to be on a path toward Mexico. There are currently no storm systems on a track toward the East Coast.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Southerly winds are keeping Ocean City cooler than the mainland.
The National Weather Service on Thursday issued a "Hazardous Weather Outlook" that warns of heat, rip currents and a chance of severe storms tonight. With temperatures expected to climb into the 90s and humidity returning, much of the mainland is under a heat advisory. Heat index values (a measure of air temperature and humidity) are expected to exceed 100 degrees on Thursday, July 26. But a gusty south wind is keeping Ocean City much cooler. Sustained wind speed is 15 to 20 mph on Thursday on the island with gusts exceeding 25 mph. The wind is generating choppy waves and rough surf, and the Weather Service warns of stronger rip currents. A strong thunderstorm — most likely between 6 p.m. and midnight — could bring hail, gusty winds, heavy…
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Weather, waves and tides for Wednesday, July 18.
Wednesday will start out much like Monday and Tuesday: Hot and steamy. But a line of late-afternoon and evening showers are bringing cooler temperatures for the rest of the week. A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for the entire shore area until 9 p.m. Wednesday night, forecasters said. A cold front is predicted to roll through the region late this afternoon with the potential of sparking thunderstorms. Some storms could be severe, with large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and frequent lightning, said a forecast posted Wednesday afternoon. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday that warns of heat index values (a combination of air temperature and humidity) of 103 to 107 degrees. The …
Monday, July 16, 2012
No tropical storms are brewing, and the forecast calls for a short string of 90-degree days.
After Tropical Storm Alberto showed up in mid-May — two weeks early for hurricane season — it appeared that the summer of 2012 might be a busy one for tropical activity. But only three other storms have been named (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph winds) since then, and only one (Chris) briefly reached hurricane status (sustained winds of at least 74 mph). Alberto was one of only three tropical storms in the past 31 years to form as early as May. The National Hurricane Center is reporting no tropical storm activity in the Atlantic Ocean basin on Monday, and it sees no factors that will lead to further development this week. Alex Sosnowski, senior meteorologist with Accuweather, is predicting a "normal" year for hurricane activity with about…
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Weather, waves and tides for Saturday, July 14.
We found a little trouble in paradise on Friday morning. Amid a long swim in wonderfully warm, calm and clear water, we encountered our first stinging jellyfish of the season. He didn't seem to have many friends hanging around. But it may be a sign of things to come. Guess we're not the only ones enjoying that warm water. The official ocean temperature from Steel Pier in Atlantic City at 7:30 p.m. Friday night: 79.5 degrees. Light south winds on Saturday shouldn't do much to change that water temp or to bring us any substantial surf. After a little bump on Wednesday and Thursday, the waves were back down to knee-high on Friday. Up on the beach, the National Weather Service is calling for a cloudy day with a high near 87 degrees. The NWS …
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Weather, waves and tides for Thursday, July 12.
Each of the surfers who crested the dunes on Wednesday afternoon at Waverly Beach said some variation of the same thing: "Whoa, where did they come from?" Chest-high waves were rolling in shortly after high tide, and the conditions got better into the evening. The little swell broke a two-week spell of relatively flat water and came courtesy of a low-pressure system stalled out over the Atlantic Ocean. Look for more of the same on Thursday, which means good news for the Chip Miller Surf and Turf event. Steady northeast winds in the morning will keep conditions choppy, but the breeze is expected to fade through the day. The ocean temperature is toasty warm at 78 degrees. Low tide is at 8:49 a.m., and high tide at 3:22 p.m. Up on the beach, …
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Weather, waves and tides for Saturday, July 7.
Flags on the Ocean City Boardwalk on Friday afternoon said one thing, but a walk across the beach said quite another. The flags showed a fairly steady sea breeze, usually a sign of cooler things to come. But the wind did little to take the edge off heat that topped 90 degrees on Friday. And it looks like today will be even hotter. The National Weather Service is calling for a sunny day with a high near 95 degrees and heat index values (a measure of both heat and humidity) as high as 105. The marine forecast calls for light south winds, and the mainland forecast calls for light west winds. Though neither wind figures to provide a whole lot of relief, temperatures on the mainland are expected to be even higher. The NWS has issued an …
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
What's in the forecast for the Fourth of July in Ocean City?
The question of the hour: What will the weather be like for the fireworks tonight? The National Weather Service, as of 9 a.m. Wednesday (July 4), is on the fence. Here's the forecast: "Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. West wind 8 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms." In the ocean, we're looking at a beautiful 72.3 degrees with calm water and small surf. And there doesn't appear to be any wave-generating weather in the near-term forecast this week. Low tide on the oceanfront will be at 2:29 p.m. on Wednesday. High tide is at 8:50 p.m. — just before the start of the fireworks …
Ellen
7:31 pm on Saturday, August 4, 2012
Good Job Jim Ginn! Thank you. more ›