Coastal Storm Unleashes Rain, Winds in Ocean City

By MADDY VITALE Rain pelted the roadways and a wind gust exceeded 50 mph in a coastal storm that started Sunday night and went into much of the day Monday, leaving Ocean City residents feeling a bit waterlogged. There was one positive: Unless awakened by strong wind gusts or from the steady rap of rain on your window Sunday into Monday morning, the nastiest part of the storm happened long before the morning commute. “Excessive rainfall was a bigger factor than tidal flooding. The strongest winds and heaviest rain came between about 3 a.m. and 4 a.m.,” Ocean City spokesman Doug Bergen said Monday. “After things calmed down, we saw a second cell pass through about 6 a.m. A peak wind gust of 54 mph came at 5:47 a.m., and a lot of Ocean City experienced street flooding while the storm drainage system caught up.” The National Weather Service issued a flood watch for Ocean City from Sunday to Monday and a wind advisory well ahead of the storm. Rainfall totals reported statewide by the National Weather Service showed that Ocean City got drenched with at least 2.33 inches of rain. Some parts of the state got soaked with 4 to 5 inches of rain. Frank Donato, Ocean City's Office of Emergency Management director, said that despite the rainfall, there was only minor flooding. “That squall line at around 6 (a.m.) produced some very heavy rain for a short period of time,” Donato said, noting that there was some minor street flooding afterwards. He added that the wind changed directions after the squall line. “The wind had changed directions since then, though, and we aren't concerned with any significant tidal flooding at this point,” he said Monday afternoon. A shift in the wind direction keeps the city from more significant flooding. While minor flooding was reported, some residents posted storm photos on social media. Members of the Ocean City Flooding Committee took to Facebook to share photos of minor flooding in their neighborhoods in town. Resident Roseanne Monfardini took photos of 32nd Street and 33rd Street and Haven and Simpson Avenues. She posted that the flooding was “not as bad as it could have been.” “32nd cross-street was the worst, but that is receding," Monfardini posted. "Very lucky. Those winds were really bad.” As in all other coastal storms, the city and Mayor Jay Gillian put out alerts and statements including reminders to residents not to be caught off guard. “Heavy rain flooding can impact parts of the island that don’t typically experience tidal flooding, and flooding conditions can develop quickly,” the city said in its public service announcement to the community on Saturday morning. “The roads closer to the beach including Central and Wesley avenues are typically at higher elevation.” During all inclement weather, the city offers residents free parking at all municipal lots. Parking also is available during inclement weather for Ocean City residents and visitors at the Trinity United Methodist Church at 20 North Shore Road in Marmora. For Police and Fire Department emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies, call 609-399-9111.