Watch: Barnegat Bay Thaws Under Glowing Sunset by Chadwick Island

It was cool while it lasted. A quick cold spell, a rarity for this winter, moved out of the region Sunday and with it went much of the ice that began to stack up on the surface of Barnegat Bay.

After a day with highs near 40 degrees under sunny skies, water began flowing in most of the channels and the ice that had built up after two days and three nights of temperatures well below freezing began to thaw. Gulls immediate began searching for a fresh catch, though the waters were still too hazardous for any brave boaters looking to score a mid-winter catch of their own.

(A video showing the details of “the thaw” is embedded above.)

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The National Weather Service forecast predicts a generally mild week ahead.

After an overnight low in the mid-30s, Monday is forecast to be mostly sunny, with a high near 47 and north wind 10 to 15 m.p.h., with gusts as high as 25 m.p.h.

The skies will remain clear overnight between Monday and Tuesday, however Tuesday is forecast to be mostly cloudy, with a high near 44, with northeast wind 5 to 15 m.p.h. becoming south in the afternoon.

Wednesday will bring mostly cloudy skies, but the high will remain at the 40-degree mark. Thursday will see the first chance of precipitation this coming week, with a chance of rain under cloudy skies, but a mild 53-degree high. More rain is forecast Thursday night, before the sun returns Friday with a high of 51 degrees.

Cover Photo:

Barnegat Bay begins to thaw, Feb. 5, 2023. (Photo: Daniel Nee)