A nor’easter churning offshore is threatening to bring more beach erosion and possible coastal flooding to Delaware, where communities are still recovering from damage caused by a previous storm.
Despite relatively calm conditions on land Monday, state officials warned that powerful waves generated by the offshore storm could further damage beaches and dunes that have already taken a beating.
“So we’ve got a nor’easter coming in,” said Kathleen Bergin, who works in shoreline management for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC).
Bergin and her team are still working to repair several areas damaged by the last storm. Now, they’re preparing for another round of potentially destructive conditions.
“We are expecting erosion tonight. We are expecting erosion tomorrow,” Bergin said.
While conditions along the Delaware coast may not look particularly threatening, Bergin said storms hundreds of miles offshore can have significant impacts on the shoreline.
“Here in Delaware things that happen two and three hundred miles off shore really are the problem, they just build up and all of that wave energy comes into our shorelines, really does a number of us and stays for a number of days because it takes a long time for that energy to dissipate,” Bergin said.
Officials are anticipating ocean swells reaching 10 to 11 feet, which could cause additional erosion along the coast.
Back bay flooding is also possible, with winds potentially keeping water levels elevated for an extended period.
The rough conditions were already being felt by people enjoying the water.
Windsurfer Stan Iwamoto said the powerful surf damaged his equipment while he was out on the water.
“I had to jump off my gear and it washed up on the beach and ripped my sail apart,” Iwamoto said.
When asked whether conditions had become too rough, Iwamoto replied, “Too rough, Time to quit.”
In Bethany Beach, visitors were still enjoying the shoreline on a breezy, chilly autumn Monday, even as signs of damage from the previous nor’easter remained visible.
Most of the town’s beach access ramps were still closed after the earlier storm washed away sand beneath them and carved away large sections of the dunes.
The closures highlight the challenges facing coastal communities as another storm threatens to undo ongoing repairs.
State officials are hoping the latest nor’easter won’t make an already difficult situation worse, particularly as crews continue working to restore damaged sections of the coastline.
For now, the beaches remain a draw for visitors, but the combination of powerful offshore waves, potential flooding and vulnerable dunes has officials closely watching conditions along the Delaware coast.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC Philadelphia. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC Philadelphia journalist edited the article for publication.
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