National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration Predicts “Near-Normal” Storm Season

Living at the shore comes at a price. Wise lifelong residents know this. Natural forces of wind and water have been shaping our coast for millions of years. That’s life at the beach.

With the 2023 hurricane season lingering — officially it lasts from June 1 to November 30 — shore residents must remain on guard. Rising sea levels, growing federal and state government insolvency, and coastal over-development means we beach folks already face serious challenges to our permanence.

Satellite image of Sandy over the Northeast.

For 2023, the NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecast 14 to 17 named storms, 5 to 9 hurricanes, and 1 to 4 major hurricanes — meaning a 70% chance of a near-normal storm season for the Atlantic basin. A major hurricane is Category 3 or stronger on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Cat 3 winds can reach 130 mph with storm water surges up to 12 feet above the mean high tide.

This is the price we beach bums must pay. And we took a hammering not long ago — with “Superstorm Sandy” in late-October 2012. Our area had a taste of “the big one” a decade ago now.

“Nature to be commanded must be obeyed.”
—Francis Bacon

Beyond the wrath of Sandy, history finds only one intense hurricane made landfall in New Jersey in the past 350 years in 1821 (others recall bad ones in 1938 and 1910). Although the chances generally favor us (most hurricanes lose their energy before reaching the Jersey Shore), any appreciation for the law of averages means understanding that the longest odds will sometimes hit.

Massive tides surges, brutal winds, a peak summer population, limited and clogged escape routes, and complacency (too many coastal dwellers underestimate hurricanes) could combine to intensify an already unthinkable weather disaster.

The borough — basically a low-lying barrier beach bracketed by the Shrewsbury River and Atlantic Ocean — is particularly vulnerable. Geologically known as the Northern Headlands, our immediate shore area is “characterized by narrow beaches at the base of deteriorated bluffs and dunes that have been eroded by years of storm damage,” according to the pros at Hurricaneville, “offering the least suitable natural and artificial protection from erosive forces.”

Not this way — Flooding on Patten Avenue, 2020.

What’s the Plan?
Shore residents shouldn’t count on government of any type to save them. True security comes only in having an escape plan and the discipline to employ it when the time arrives. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that weather is unpredictable.

Even the most advanced climate-tracking technology is no match for Mother Nature’s wrath. Late changes in a storm’s path could leave thousands unprepared. Bottom line: all shore dwellers must be vigilant and always have a “Plan.” Here are some other basics to consider:

• Shore residents should always be a little more alert and prepared during the hurricane season.

• If you suspect serious weather trouble, listen to the Weather Channel. Tune into the borough’s radio station at 1640 AM for regular weather updates. The MB Office of Emergency Management also has a Facebook page.

• Have a personal escape route planned and a safe location predetermined. The borough has posted Coastal Evacuation Route signs throughout town. Know them and have your gas tank full.

• Assemble and maintain an emergency & survival kit. This should include a flashlight, radio, batteries, first aid kit, nonperishable foods, three gallons of water per person, and protective clothing.

• For more information visit the National Hurricane Center.

And …

Monmouth Beach Borough Strategic Recovery Planning Report