Rough Day: Damage, Erosion Becomes Clear in Ortley Beach Tuesday

Winds gusting to about 40 m.p.h. continued to drive sand over dune fencing, clog up beach entrances and cover vegetation in Ortley Beach on Tuesday, as a storm that has lingered for four days barely let up.

Relief for the Shore area is unlikely to come until Thursday, though Wednesday will bring lighter and more scattered rain and slightly-reduced wind speeds, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service. A high surf advisory will not be in place, and a coastal flood warning expires at midnight Wednesday. Surf will continue to run high, however, with strong waves and rip currents continuing to play a dangerous role in the continuing weather system. Winds will top out at about 20 m.p.h. Wednesday.

Damage and erosion in Ortley Beach, N.J., Oct. 4, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

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Damage and erosion in Ortley Beach, N.J., Oct. 4, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Damage and erosion in Ortley Beach, N.J., Oct. 4, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

On Tuesday, beach entrances in Ortley Beach remained closed, and others were inaccessible due to large mounds of sand – resembling snow drifts – piling up near the dune line. The dunes themselves were not breached.

Damage and erosion in Ortley Beach, N.J., Oct. 4, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Damage and erosion in Ortley Beach, N.J., Oct. 4, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Damage and erosion in Ortley Beach, N.J., Oct. 4, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

Damage and erosion in Ortley Beach, N.J., Oct. 4, 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)

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Seas will continue to run 7-9 feet on Wednesday, subsiding to 4-6 feet Wednesday night into Thursday. During the day Thursday, lighter swells of 2-4 foot will be dominant, the NWS said. Wave heights in the surf zone will run 4-6 feet Wednesday and 2-3 feet Thursday.