Tracking Two Storms Impacting the Northern U.S. Through Thanksgiving and into This Weekend

Heavy lake effect snow, gusty winds, and localized blizzard conditions will persist through Thanksgiving near and downwind of the Great Lakes. Rain and mountain snow are forecast for the Pacific Northwest. Confidence is increasing for another winter storm to develop over the northern and central Rockies Friday and track across the central Plains through the Midwest and Great Lakes this weekend. Read More >

Nor'easter
May 11-13, 2008

Synopsis

A low pressure system was centered over the Illinois/Indiana border early on the morning of May 11th and was moving towards the east. A seconday low began to form over eastern North Carolina during the late afternoon on the 11th and eventually absorbed the other low pressure becoming the dominant low. This low began its movement up the Mid-Atlantic coastline late on the 11th into the 12th. Early on the morning of the 12th the low was centered over the southern Delmarva with yet another low forming offshore. With the two lows in close proximity, a strong northeast wind developed and persisted through the evening of the 12th. The prolonged northeast flow combined with higher than normal tides caused tidal flooding in New Jersey and Delaware. There was limited moisture inland from the center of the system but an abundance of moisture was ushered into southern Delaware and Eastern Maryland. By Monday evening the coastal low began moving towards the southeast away from the region, bringing an end to the gusty winds and tidal problems.

Watches/Warnings/Advisories

A Flood Watch was issued at 337 AM EDT on the 11th and was in effect from late Sunday night until Monday afternoon. The watch was for Cecil County in Maryland; New Castle County in Delaware; and Chester, Delaware and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania. The Flood Watch was cancelled for all counties at 931 AM EDT on the 12th.

A Coastal Flood Advisory was issued at 515 AM EDT on the 11th. The advisory was in effect from Midnight EDT on the 11th through 500 AM EDT on the 12th for Inland Sussex County and the Delaware beaches in Delaware; Middlesex, Eastern and Western Monmouth, Ocean, Atalntic, Cape May and Southeastern Burlington counties in New Jersey and including the back bays. A Coastal Flood Watch was issued at the same time and was in effect from Monday afternoon through late Monday night. The Coastal Flood Advisory was upgraded to a Coastal Flood Warning at 334 PM EDT on the 11th and was in effect from Midnight EDT on the 11th through 800 AM EDT on the 13th. At this time a Coastal Flood Warning was also issued for New Castle and Kent counties in Delaware; Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Cumberland, and Northwestern Burlington counties in New Jersey and Delaware and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania and in effect for Midnight EDT on the 11th through 800 AM EDT on the 13th. Also, a Coastal Flood Advisory was issued for Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot and Caroline counties in Maryland, in effect for Midnight EDT on the 11th through 800 AM EDT on the 13th. The Coastal Flood Advisory was cancelled at 415 PM EDT on the 12th. The Coastal Flood Warning was allowed to expire at 800 AM EDT on the 13th.

A Wind Advisory was issued at 906 PM on the 11th for Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware; Talbot and Caroline counties in Maryland; and Atlantic, Cumberland, Cape May and Southeastern Burlington counties in New Jersey. The Advisory was in effect from the time of issuance through 400 PM EDT on the 12th. At this time a Wind Advisory was also issued for Middlesex, Momouth, and Ocean counties in New Jersery, in effect from 400 AM EDT through 400 PM EDT on the 12th. At 554 AM EDT on the 12th, a Wind Advisory was issued for New Castle County in Delaware; Queen Anne's County in Maryland; Somerset, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, and Northwestern Burlington counties in New Jersey; and Delaware and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania, in effect from time of issuance until 400 PM EDT on the 12th. At this time the Wind Advisory was cancelled for Sussex County in Delaware and Talbot County in Maryland. At 935 AM on the 12th a Wind Advisory was re-issued for Sussex County in Delaware and in effect from time of issuance until 400 PM EDT on the 12th. At 1025 AM EDT on the 12th, the Wind Advisory was upgraded to a High Wind Warning for Sussex County in Delaware; and Atlantic and Cape May counties in New Jersey. At 355 PM EDT on the 12th, the High Wind Warning was downgraded to a Wind Advisory and in effect until 800 PM EDT on the 12th. The Advisory also remained in effect for the coastal regions of Ocean County in New Jersey. At this time the Wind Advisory was cancelled for New Castle and Kent counties in Delaware; Queen Anne's and Caroline counties in Maryland; Somerset, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Salem, Gloucester, Camden, Burlington, Ocean and Cumberland Counties in New Jersey; and Delaware and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania. The remaining Wind Advisory was cancelled at 805 PM EDT on the 12th.

Precipitation/Temperatures/Winds

Precipitation was not quite as robust in most areas receiving less than 1.0 inch with locally higher amounts southeast of the I-95 corridor. However, rainfall totals of 2 to 4 inches were seen across Southern Delaware and Southeastern Maryland.

Several reports of wind damage were reported in New Jersey and Delaware. Trees and powers lines were reported down across the area as well as damages to several homes and cars. Thousands of people were without power in Southern New Jersey and Delaware as a result of the storm.Wave heights of 21 feet were recorded at Buoy 40009 with wind gusts hitting 54 MPH.

Some peak wind gusts as reported during the storm:

In Delaware:

Lewes - 68 MPH

Brandywine Light - 67 MPH

Brandywine Harbor - 67 MPH

Dover AFB - 60 MPH

Wilmington Airport - 48 MPH

In Maryland:

Ridgely - 47 MPH

Easton - 45 MPH

Chesapeake City - 44 MPH

In New Jersey:

Ocean City - 78 MPH

Sea Isle City - 76 MPH

Cape May COOP - 66 MPH

Atlantic City NJDOT - 66 MPH

Avalon - 62 MPH

Harvey Cedars - 62 MPH

Barnegat Light - 59 MPH

Atlantic City Airport - 59 MPH

Tabernacle - 57 MPH

Hillsborough - 56 MPH

Seaside Heights - 55 MPH

Sea Girt - 52 MPH

Bivalve - 50 MPH

Woodstown - 47 MPH

Trenton Mercer Airport - 46 MPH

Pittstown - 44 MPH

In Pennsylvania:

Phila Intl Airport - 49 MPH

NE Phila Airport - 47 MPH

Significant Impacts/Aspects

This was an interesting system as it will probably be remembered as the Mother's Day Storm 2008.

The most significant result of this system was a Coast Guard rescue off the coast of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. A research vessel was damaged and began taking on water early on the morning of the 12th. The 2 crewmen had to be rescued and taken to the hospital, where one was later decared deceased.

Heavy rain combined with high astronomical tides caused several roads to close in Southern New Jersey and Delaware. Some major impacts from the flooding were:

Evacuations took place in Kitts Hummock, Bowers Beach and Woodland Beach in Kent County, Delaware due to coastal and road flooding.

The Indian River Inlet Bridge on Del 1 in Sussex County, Delaware was closed due to flooding.

Del 9 was closed at the Reedy Point Bridge in New Castle County, Delaware.

Coastal Flooding in New Jersey was comparable to the October 2006 floods.

Beach erosion in Delaware and New Jersey due to the high surf has also been attributed to this storm.

A limited State of Emergency was declared in Cape May County, New Jersey due to high winds and coastal flooding and was in effect from 200 PM EDT May 12th through 1000 AM EDT May 13th.

Notes

Information contained in this summary is preliminary. More complete and/or detailed information may be contained in subsequent monthly NOAA storm data publications.

000
NOUS41 KPHI 131830
PNSPHI
DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071-140523-

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
230 PM EDT TUE MAY 13 2008

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL WIND AND RAINFALL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN 
DURING THE STORM THAT AFFECTED OUR REGION OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF 
DAYS.  WIND REPORTS ARE 40 MPH OR GREATER AND RAINFALL REPORTS ARE 1 
INCH OR GREATER. THE REST OF THE AREA RECEIVED LESS THAN AN INCH OF 
TOTAL RAINFALL. APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS... 
COOPERATIVE OBSERVERS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND MEDIA FOR THESE 
REPORTS. THIS SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOME PAGE AT 
WEATHER.GOV/PHI

***********************PEAK WIND GUST***********************

LOCATION            PEAK WIND    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
                         GUST       OF
                        (MPH)   MEASUREMENT


DELAWARE

...KENT COUNTY...
   DOVER AFB               60   456 AM  5/12 
   SANDTOWN                46   300 AM  5/12 
   DELAWARE CITY           43   436 AM  5/12

...NEW CASTLE COUNTY...
   WILMINGTON AIRPORT      48   947 AM  5/12  
   DELAWARE CITY           43   400 AM  5/12
   CHERRY ISLAND           42   500 AM  5/12
        

...SUSSEX COUNTY...
   LEWES                   68  1000 AM  5/12  
   BRANDYWINE LIGHT        67  1100 AM  5/12
   BREAKWATER HARBOR       67  1100 AM  5/12
   PRIME HOOK RAWS         58   200 AM  5/12
   BETHANY BEACH BRDWLK    51  1200 AM  5/12
   GEORGETOWN AIRPORT      51  1137 PM  5/11  
   HARBESON                41   900 AM  5/12  

MARYLAND

...CAROLINE COUNTY...
   RIDGELY                 47  1135 PM  5/11  

...CECIL COUNTY...
   CHESAPEAKE CITY         44   954 AM  5/12

...TALBOT COUNTY...
   EASTON                  45  1130 PM  5/11 

NEW JERSEY

...ATLANTIC COUNTY...
   ATLANTIC CITY NJDOT     66   940 AM  5/12
   ATLANTIC CITY AIRPORT   59   952 AM  5/12
   JACQUES COUSTEAU RSRV   45   200 AM  5/12
   ATLANTIC CITY MARINA    39  1100 PM  5/11  
   OCEANVILLE              40  1000 AM  5/12

...BURLINGTON COUNTY...
   TABERNACLE              57  1150 AM  5/12
   CHATSWORTH COYLE FIELD  51  1000 AM  5/12
   MCGUIRE AFB             46   855 AM  5/12

...CAPE MAY COUNTY...
   OCEAN CITY              78   330 AM  5/12
   SEA ISLE CITY           76  1000 AM  5/12  
   AVALON                  62   200 AM  5/12
   CAPE MAY HARBOR         62   900 AM  5/12
   CAPE MAY FERRY          58  1200 AM  5/12
   CAPE MAY                58  1230 AM  5/12
   WOODBINE                48  1100 AM  5/12
   WOODBINE                57   900 AM  5/12 
   CAPE MAY COAST GUARD    56   100 AM  5/12
   WILDWOOD ARPT           47   755 AM  5/12
   CAPE MAY USCG BASE      41  1030 PM  5/11

...CUMBERLAND COUNTY...
   BIVALVE                 50           5/12
   MILLVILLE AIRPORT       48   417 AM  5/12  
   NEWPORT                 42   526 AM  5/12

...HUNTERDON COUNTY...
   PITTSTOWN               44   400 AM  5/12

...MERCER COUNTY...       
   TRENTON AIRPORT         46   845 AM  5/12

...MONMOUTH COUNTY...
   SEA GIRT                52  1000 AM  5/12
   KEANSBURG               47   600 AM  5/12
   SANDY HOOK              43   130 AM  5/12
   CREAM RIDGE             41  1100 AM  5/12

...OCEAN COUNTY...
   HARVEY CEDARS           62   900 AM  5/12 
   BARNEGAT LIGHT          59   500 AM  5/12
   SEASIDE HEIGHTS         55   800 AM  5/12
   BEACHWOOD               52   226 PM  5/12
   BRANT BEACH             52   800 AM  5/12  
   TRIXIES LANDING         52   800 AM  5/12
   TOMS RIVER AIRPORT      51   855 AM  5/12
   LONG BEACH ISLAND       50   800 AM  5/12
   WEST CREEK              48           5/12
   BERKLEY TWP             45           5/12

...SALEM COUNTY...
   WOODSTOWN               47           5/12

...SOMERSET COUNTY...
   HILLSBOROUGH            56   330 AM  5/12

PENNSYLVANIA

...PHILADELPHIA COUNTY...
   PHILADELPHIA INTL       49   826 AM  5/12
   NE PHILADELPHIA ARPT    47   840 AM  5/12

********************STORM TOTAL RAINFALL********************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
                     RAINFALL       OF
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT


DELAWARE

...KENT COUNTY...
   DOVER AFB             1.82   700 AM  5/13  

...SUSSEX COUNTY...
   GREENWOOD             2.37   700 AM  5/13  

MARYLAND

...CAROLINE COUNTY...
   GREENSBORO            2.36   700 AM  5/13   1.4 ENE
   DENTON                2.32   700 AM  5/13   5.8 WSW

...KENT COUNTY...
   MILLINGTON            2.09   700 AM  5/13   1.1 WNW

...QUEEN ANNE'S COUNTY...
   CHURCH HILL           2.65   700 AM  5/13   0.3 WSW
   STEVENSVILLE          2.64   700 AM  5/13  

...TALBOT COUNTY...
   ROYAL OAK             3.10   700 AM  5/13  
   SAINT MICHAELS        3.09   700 AM  5/13   0.7 SE
   EASTON                2.84   700 AM  5/13   2.4 SE
   BELLEVUE              2.81   700 AM  5/13   0.3 NNE
   EASTON                2.58   700 AM  5/13   1.2 SSW
   EASTON                2.44   700 AM  5/13   2.9 NNE
   CORDOVA               2.30   700 AM  5/13   0.1 NNW
   CORDOVA               2.27   700 AM  5/13   0.8 NNE

NEW JERSEY

...ATLANTIC COUNTY...
   ATLANTIC CITY         1.77   700 AM  5/13   MARINA
   ESTELL MANOR          1.16   700 AM  5/13  
   BUENA VISTA           1.06   700 AM  5/13   2.6 NNE

...CAMDEN COUNTY...
   SOMERDALE             1.09   700 AM  5/13  

...GLOUCESTER COUNTY...
   FRANKLIN TWP          1.22   700 AM  5/13   4.4 SE
   MANTUA                1.19   700 AM  5/13   1.5 E
   WEST DEPTFORD         1.06   700 AM  5/13  

...MONMOUTH COUNTY...
   MANASQUAN             1.07   700 AM  5/13  

...OCEAN COUNTY...
   BRICK                 1.18   700 AM  5/13   1.5 NNE    
   SOUTH TOMS RIVER      1.08   700 AM  5/13   4.6 NNW

$$

MEOLA/ROBERTSON/GORSE

000
NWUS51 KPHI 122001
LSRPHI

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
401 PM EDT MON MAY 12 2008

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0100 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG POMONA                  39.47N 74.55W 
05/12/2008                   ATLANTIC           NJ   UNKNOWN         

            TREES AND WIRES DOWN, WITH DAMAGE TO SEVERAL RVS AT AN RV
            PARK IN GALLOWAY TWP.

0500 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  TUCKERTON               39.60N 74.33W 
05/12/2008                   OCEAN              NJ   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            NUMEROUS ROADS FLOODED DUE TO COASTAL FLOODING IN 
            TUCKERTON BEACH AREA. TWO AND A HALF FEET OVER THE 
            BULKHEAD.

0520 AM     FLOOD            BOWERS                  39.06N 75.40W 
05/12/2008                   KENT               DE   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            COASTAL FLOODING AND EVACUATIONS FROM WOODLAND BEACH 
            SOUTH TO BOWERS BEACH. 

0630 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  OCEAN CITY              39.27N 74.60W 
05/12/2008                   CAPE MAY           NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            9TH ST BRIDGE CLOSED. 5TH THROUGH 56TH WEST OF WEST AVE 
            CLOSED DUE TO COASTAL FLOODING.

0630 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  WEST WILDWOOD           39.00N 74.82W 
05/12/2008                   CAPE MAY           NJ   AMATEUR RADIO   

            NUMEROUS ROADS CLOSED DUE TO COASTAL FLOODING.

0630 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  NORTH WILDWOOD          39.00N 74.80W 
05/12/2008                   CAPE MAY           NJ   AMATEUR RADIO   

            NORTH WILDWOOD BLVD CLOSED. MOST ROADS WEST OF PARK BLVD 
            CLOSED DUE TO COASTAL FLOODING.

0630 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  AVALON                  39.09N 74.74W 
05/12/2008                   CAPE MAY           NJ   AMATEUR RADIO   

            MOST ROADS WEST OF OCEAN DRIVE CLOSED DUE TO COASTAL 
            FLOODING.

0630 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  4 NE SEA ISLE CITY      39.19N 74.64W 
05/12/2008                   ANZ453             NJ   AMATEUR RADIO   

            MOST ROADS ADJACENT TO INTERCOASTAL WATERWAY CLOSED DUE 
            TO COASTAL FLOODING.

0700 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG REHOBOTH BEACH          38.72N 75.08W 
05/12/2008                   SUSSEX             DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            NUMEROUS TREES DOWN THROUGHOUT COUNTY.

0700 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  MILLSBORO               38.59N 75.29W 
05/12/2008                   SUSSEX             DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            LONG NECK ROAD NEAR WHITE HOUSE BEACH IS FLOODED

0700 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  LONG NECK               38.62N 75.15W 
05/12/2008                   SUSSEX             DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            REHOBOTH SHORES IN LONGNECK IS FLOODED

0700 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  1 S DEWEY BEACH         38.68N 75.08W 
05/12/2008                   ANZ455             DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            ROUTE 1 ONE MILE SOUTH OF DEWEY BEACH HAS WATER ACROSS 
            ROADWAY.

0700 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  1 W LONG NECK           38.62N 75.17W 
05/12/2008                   SUSSEX             DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            OAK ORCHARD AREA-WATER ON ROADWAY.

0700 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  4 N BETHANY BEACH       38.60N 75.07W 
05/12/2008                   SUSSEX             DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            ROUTE 1 SOUTH BOUND, SOUTH SIDE OF INDIAN RIVER INLET 
            BRIDGE FLOODED

0730 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  ATLANTIC CITY           39.36N 74.44W 
05/12/2008                   ATLANTIC           NJ   BROADCAST MEDIA 

            BLACK HORSE AND WHITE HORSE PIKES CLOSED DUE TO COASTAL 
            FLOODING.

0800 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  CAMDEN                  39.94N 75.11W 
05/12/2008                   CAMDEN             NJ   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            ADMIRAL WILSON BLVD FLOODED DUE TO COASTAL FLOODING.

0900 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  10 SW MILLVILLE         39.29N 75.19W 
05/12/2008                   CUMBERLAND         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            NUMEROUS ROADS FLOODED ALONG BAY. 2 TO 3 FEET ON ROADS IN
            SOME AREAS.

0930 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  N HAMMONTON             39.65N 74.77W 
05/12/2008                   ATLANTIC           NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TREE DOWN ON SIDE ROAD JUST OFF ROUTE 54 NEAR CENTER OF 
            TOWN. 

0930 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG CAPE MAY                38.94N 74.91W 
05/12/2008                   CAPE MAY           NJ   AMATEUR RADIO   

            NUMEROUS TREES AND WIRES DOWN IN CAPE MAY, WOODBINE, 
            WILDWOOD

0930 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  ODESSA                  39.46N 75.66W 
05/12/2008                   NEW CASTLE         DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            ROUTE 299 AND OLD CORBIT ROAD EAST OF ODESSA CLOSED DUE 
            TO FLOODING.

0930 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  SLAUGHTER BEACH         38.91N 75.30W 
05/12/2008                   SUSSEX             DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            SOME SUBDIVISIONS ARE BEING EVACUATED IN SLAUGHTER BEACH.


0930 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  3 N MILTON              38.82N 75.31W 
05/12/2008                   SUSSEX             DE   LAW ENFORCEMENT 

            SHORE DR IN PRIME HOOK BEACH COVERED WITH TWO FEET OF 
            WATER.

0930 AM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  2 S DELAWARE CITY       39.55N 75.60W 
05/12/2008                   NEW CASTLE         DE   AMATEUR RADIO   

            ROUTE 9 BETWEEN REEDY POINT BRIDGE AND PORT PENN CLOSED 
            DUE TO COASTAL FLOODING.

1034 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG HI-NELLA                39.84N 75.02W 
05/12/2008                   CAMDEN             NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TREE DOWN NEAR WARWICK RD

1050 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 3 S TOMS RIVER          39.91N 74.18W 
05/12/2008                   OCEAN              NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TREE DOWN IN BAYVILLE.

1150 AM     NON-TSTM WND DMG 5 SSE LEISURETOWNE      39.83N 74.67W 
05/12/2008                   BURLINGTON         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            SMALL TREES DOWN IN TABERNACLE

1230 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG SURF CITY               39.66N 74.17W 
05/12/2008                   OCEAN              NJ   AMATEUR RADIO   

            ROUTE 72 BRIDGE CLOSED. VEHICLES BLOWN INTO BARRIER.

0226 PM     NON-TSTM WND DMG TOMS RIVER              39.95N 74.18W 
05/12/2008                   OCEAN              NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER 

            TREES DOWN IN BEACHWOOD AND TOMS RIVER.

0300 PM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  NEPTUNE CITY            40.20N 74.03W 
05/12/2008                   MONMOUTH           NJ   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            COASTAL FLOODING, TWO TO THREE FEET OF WATER ON ROADWAYS 
            IN AND AROUND NEPTUNE.

0330 PM     HIGH ASTR TIDES  ATLANTIC CITY           39.36N 74.44W 
05/12/2008                   ATLANTIC           NJ   EMERGENCY MNGR  

            BOTH THE BLACK AND WHITE HORSE PIKES IN AND OUT OF 
            ATLANTIC CITY CLOSED BECAUSE OF TIDAL FLOODING.


&&

$$

GORSE/ROBERTSON

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