Spring is in the air and Summer is so close you can practically taste it. While It’s obvious that the locals and tourists of New Jersey are ready for this summer, the question remains: Are our beaches? Well, according to our State of the Shore Report they most certainly are! Our beaches are in good condition after a few relatively mild winters in a row. Not to mention that New Jersey has taken steps to improve resilience, including developing a statewide coastal resilience strategy, creating buyout programs and elevation solutions, and embracing living shorelines and other natural infrastructure.

In terms of coastal flooding, erosion, and wave activity, this winter was relatively uneventful. However, two large storms made quite the splashes in our home state. Although no longer a Category 5 by the time it reached New Jersey, Hurricane Ian not only caused billions of dollars in damages, but also created some of the largest impacts of the season. During a storm in a Spring tide in December, water levels measured by the tide gauge at Sandy Hook reached their highest since Hurricane Sandy.

The summer forecast is a bit more complicated and comes with a high level of uncertainly based on developing El Niño conditions and unusually warm surface water in the Atlantic Basin, which can both increase the likelihood of formation and the intensity of hurricanes. We will have to wait and see how the Spring and Summer season progresses, so please remember to be safe and prepared when it comes to the coast. Read more in this year’s State of the Shore Report.

NJSGC invites media and tourism representatives to learn more about the ever-changing conditions of our shoreline from our group of local scientists and environmental managers. Like past years we hosted the State of the Shore press event at Tim McLoone’s Supper Club located on the iconic Asbury Park boardwalk, with guest speakers including NJSGC Coastal Processes Specialist Dr. Jon Miller, NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, and Coastal Community Resilience Specialist, Dr. Tom Herrington.