Brace yourself – New Jersey is under siege from a ferocious nor’easter that's unleashing brutal winds and relentless rain, putting coastal communities on high alert for devastating flooding! It's the kind of storm that reminds us how Mother Nature can turn vicious in an instant, and as residents hunker down, the question on everyone's mind is: will this be the one that reshapes the Jersey Shore forever? Stick around, because there's a silver lining in the clouds that might surprise you.
- Weather
- Updated: October 12, 2025, at 8:10 a.m.
- Published: October 12, 2025, at 8:04 a.m.
This intense nor’easter began battering New Jersey early on Sunday morning, bringing with it waves of torrential downpours and howling gales. The biggest worry? Significant inundation along the Jersey Shore during peak tide periods.
'Moderate to major coastal flooding effects are still expected,' declared the National Weather Service in their storm briefing on Sunday morning. 'This could mean roads becoming unusable due to widespread water overflow, buildings getting severely waterlogged, and the need for people to evacuate.'
Every single one of New Jersey's 21 counties is currently in a state of emergency, a declaration that went into effect at 10 p.m. on Saturday.
The National Weather Service has put out alerts for strong winds and coastal flooding across numerous New Jersey counties, predicting gusts that could soar up to 60 mph and storm surges that threaten seaside towns.
Expect powerful winds from the northeast throughout Sunday, with the most severe effects hitting during the evening and into the early hours of Monday.
For areas inland, anticipate wind bursts around 30 to 40 mph, which could lead to extensive blackouts.
And this is the part most people miss – there's actually some positive news in the latest weather update. The predictions for total rainfall have been steadily decreasing.
Now, the majority of New Jersey is anticipated to receive under an inch of precipitation.
However, coastal counties might see 1 to 3 inches.
As the weather service explains, 'Shoreline zones might face a double whammy: heavy showers combined with moderate to major tidal floods, particularly when tides peak.'
The National Weather Service also cautions about erosion on beaches and the risk of dunes being overwashed along the full length of the New Jersey coastline, where waves could reach heights of 8 to 12 feet.
The upcoming three high tides, kicking off Sunday afternoon, are the primary threat for serious flooding.
In Atlantic City, the oceanfront high tide is forecasted to hit 8.1 feet on Monday afternoon, surpassing the threshold for major flooding but not matching the all-time high of 9 feet.
Tides in Cape May Harbor are set to exceed major flood levels both Sunday and Monday afternoons.
Coastal residents ought to gear up for possibilities like electrical disruptions, water overflow, and structural harm from the winds.
The National Weather Service advises fastening down any unsecured outdoor objects, avoiding beachfront zones during high tides, and having plans in place for potential emergency relocations.
The storm is anticipated to lose strength and depart from New Jersey by Monday night, with gradual improvements arriving by Tuesday.
A high-pressure system will begin to influence the area midweek, ushering in drier and chillier air.
Expect temperatures to stay below average for Thursday and Friday, followed by a shift back to standard autumn conditions by the weekend.
Current weather radar
- N.J. power outages: Thousands plunged into darkness as the nor’easter assaults the state with gusty winds and showers (https://www.nj.com/weather/2025/10/nj-power-outages-thousands-in-dark-as-noreaster-hits-state-with-high-winds-rain.html)
- N.J. weather: Fierce nor’easter set to pummel state with powerful breezes, seaside inundation. Most recent outlook. (https://www.nj.com/weather/2025/10/nj-weather-nasty-noreaster-on-track-to-slam-state-with-high-winds-coastal-flooding-latest-forecast.html)
- High wind warning issued for 4 N.J. counties as nor’easter approaches with 60 mph gusts (https://www.nj.com/weather/2025/10/high-wind-warning-issued-for-4-nj-counties-as-noreaster-looms-with-60-mph-gusts.html)
But here's where it gets controversial... Is climate change making these storms more frequent and intense, or are we just seeing natural weather patterns at work? Some experts argue that rising sea levels are exacerbating flooding, while others point to historical data showing nor’easters have always been a part of East Coast life. What do you think – should governments invest more in resilient infrastructure, or is personal preparedness the real key? Drop your thoughts in the comments below; we'd love to hear if you're for bolstering seawalls or if you believe these events are overstated. Remember, by engaging with our site, you're agreeing to our User Agreement (https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/user-agreement.html) and Privacy Policy (https://www.advancelocal.com/advancelocalUserAgreement/privacy-policy.html).
