[MTHOLLYSVRWX] Special Weather Statement : PHI@ 12/24/2002 1:15:47 PM

[PHI Skywarn]

WWUS81 KPHI 241812
SPSPHI
DEZ003-004-NJZ012>014-020-022>026-242115-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
107 PM EST TUE DEC 24 2002

...SPECIAL STATEMENT FOR COASTAL RESIDENTS...

LOW PRESSURE OVER THE TENNESSEE VALLEY WILL SPLIT IN TWO AS IT MOVES 
NORTHEAST ALONG THE APPALACHIANS TODAY. THE LOW WILL THEN CONSOLIDATE
INTO ONE CENTER AGAIN AS IT RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES INTO A STRONG STORM 
OVER THE DELAWARE BAY AROUND MIDDAY CHRISTMAS. THE LOW WILL CONTINUE 
TO TRACK NORTH CLOSE NEW JERSEY.

GALE WARNINGS WILL BE RAISED LATER THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE ENTIRE NEW 
JERSEY AND DELAWARE COASTS...INCLUDING THE BARRIER ISLANDS AND ALSO 
FOR THE DELAWARE BAY.

TIDAL FLOODING...HIGH TIDE WEDNESDAY ALONG THE OCEAN FRONT WILL 
OCCUR BETWEEN 11 AM AND 12 NOON. MINOR TIDAL FLOODING IS EXPECTED 
WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR MODERATE LEVELS IN OCEAN AND MONMOUTH 
COUNTIES OF NEW JERSEY SHORTLY AFTER THE TIME OF HIGH TIDE. THE 
TIDES WILL BEGIN TO DEPART ABOVE NORMAL FROM EARLY MORNING WEDNESDAY 
AS THE WINDS BECOME ONSHORE. A COASTAL FLOOD WATCH WILL BE ISSUED
LATER THIS AFTERNOON FOR MODERATE TIDAL FLOODING FOR OCEAN AND 
MONMOUTH COUNTIES OF NEW JERSEY FROM LATE MORNING UNTIL EARLY 
EVENING WEDNESDAY. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THE TIDE WILL REACH SEVEN 
AND A HALF FEET ABOVE MEAN LOWER LOW WATER. 
 
WINDS...THE WINDS WILL BECOME ONSHORE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT FROM 
SOUTH TO NORTH DURING THE DAY. ONSHORE GALE FORCE GUSTS OVER 39 MPH 
OR MORE ARE LIKELY AFTER DAYBREAK...ALSO SPREADING FROM SOUTH TO 
NORTH. AS THE LOW TRACKS NORTH...THE WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE 
NORTH AND NORTHWEST WITH GUSTS OVER 50 MPH. WINDS CLOSE TO THE 
CENTER OF THE STORM MAY ACTUALLY DROP UNDER 10 MPH FOR A BRIEF TIME 
BEFORE PICKING UP AGAIN AS THE LOW PRESSURE MOVES AWAY.   

RAINS...THE STORM WILL MOVE RATHER QUICKLY REDUCING THE RAINFALL 
POTENTIAL ACROSS THE REGION. HOWEVER...THERE MAY BE A PERIOD OF 
HEAVY RAIN WHICH MAY PRODUCE OVER AN INCH AND CAUSE SOME STREET 
FLOODING ESPECIALLY IF IT COINCIDES WITH THE APPROACH OF HIGH TIDE. 

THIS STATEMENT IS INTENDED TO REACH COASTAL RESIDENTS AND OFFICIALS 
BEFORE THE END OF THE DAY PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAY. STAY TUNED TO OTHER 
STATEMENTS ISSUED LATER TODAY. YOU CAN ACCESS THE NATIONAL WEATHER 
SERVICE ON THE INTERNET AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS, 
WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/PHI (ALL IN LOWER CASE).

$$

EBERWINE 




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