A National Hurricane Center map shows the projected track of what's now a tropical depression approaching the East Coast of the United States.
After a break Monday and Tuesday, the strong northeast winds that buffeted the coast last week will return with a vengeance.
The wind will start to pick up again on Wednesday and peak on Friday with sustained speeds of 25 to 35 mph, generating offshore waves of 9 to 12 feet, according to the most recent marine forecast.
By Saturday, the conditions could be intensified by the approach of a tropical storm. As of Monday, a tropical depression north of the Bahamas was predicted to gain enough strength over the next day or two to become Tropical Storm Joaquin and turn to the north.
"No matter whether that tropical cyclone tracks close to our area, a strengthening north to northeast wind with marine gale potential driven by strong high pressure in southeast Canada will probably force at the least widespread minor coastal flood episodes for portion
s of our Atlantic coasts of New Jersey and Delaware during the midday high tide cycles Thursday and beyond," the local National Weather Service bureau reports.
The weather will start to turn on Wednesday with heavy rain in the forecast. A chance of further rain continues through the weekend.
The lighter winds tomorrow should allow the Army Corps of Engineers contractor to complete sand-pumping for the south end beach replenishment project. And rebuilt beaches at the south end appear to have weather last week's northeast gale well. Beaches at Fifth Street and Waverly in Ocean City did not fare as well with the high tides and rough surf eating at protective dunes.
A break in the wind on Monday gave enough shape to the waves for surfers to enjoy the best conditions of the summer and fall. The northeast gale later this week will regenerate a substantial swell, but the relentless wind will keep the waves rough and less than ideal.
