Philadelphia region braces for nor’easter: N.J. and Del. see high waves, coastal flooding

The storm brought high waves, beach erosion and coastal flooding to New Jersey and Delaware starting Friday. New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency effective 5 p.m. Friday covering Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Salem counties. The state activated its Emergency Operations Center to help manage the response.

For people living along the Jersey Shore and Delaware coast, that means road closures and possible evacuations in low-lying areas as the storm pushes water inland. The emergency declaration gives state agencies more authority to move resources and warn residents as conditions change. By Friday, shore towns had already seen flooded streets, and conditions could worsen before the system clears the coast.

The nor'easter arrived just as many coastal communities move into the offseason, when fewer people are around to watch for storm surge and beach erosion firsthand.