Floodwaters submerged vehicles and forced evacuations in parts of Atlantic City on Saturday, as a nor’easter pushed water into low-lying neighbourhoods after the morning high tide.
Streets near North California Avenue, close to the bay, were inundated, while water spilled from the shoreline into West End Avenue. At least one driver abandoned a car as the flooding worsened.
Visitors described rapidly rising water in areas around the bayside. Kiylah Denee, visiting from the Bronx, said she and others had put “Glad trash bags” over their feet to keep them dry.
“If it’s not that important, then don’t risk your car, don’t risk yourself, don’t risk your safety,” she said.
Another visitor, Tiny H, said the flooding was significantly deeper than anticipated. “It’s not blown out of proportion. What they expressed is exactly what’s happening. It’s way past your foot,” they said.
Atlantic City flooding worsens after high tide
The National Weather Service had warned of two to three feet of flooding above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways in Atlantic and Cape May counties. It said widespread road flooding could make some areas impassable and leave communities isolated. ([forecast.weather.gov](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?firewxzone=NJZ022&lat=39.4576&local_place1=Atlantic+City+International+Airport+NJ&lon=-74.5772&product1=Coastal+Flood+Warning&warncounty=NJC001&warnzone=NJZ022))
Officials had forecast a major flooding impact around the 8am high tide in Atlantic City, with further flooding possible during later tidal cycles. City emergency officials said residents should expect at least five high-tide cycles as the storm lingered. ([forecast.weather.gov](https://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?firewxzone=NJZ022&lat=39.4576&local_place1=Atlantic+City+International+Airport+NJ&lon=-74.5772&product1=Coastal+Flood+Warning&warncounty=NJC001&warnzone=NJZ022))
Atlantic City leaders had urged people in flood-prone areas to move their vehicles to higher ground. Free parking was made available at the Wave Garage at Mississippi and Fairmount Avenues until at least 1pm on Saturday. ([acnj.gov](https://www.acnj.gov/_Content/pdf/NEWS-RELEASE-Atlantic-City-Leaders-Urge-to-Prepare-Noreaster.pdf))
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill declared a state of emergency in eight counties, including Atlantic, ahead of the storm. The declaration activated the state emergency operations centre and brought together state police, transport and environmental officials with county emergency managers. ([nj.gov](https://nj.gov/governor/news/2026/approved/20260925a.shtml))
Along the boardwalk, rough surf left marks showing how close the water had reached the ramps. Conditions varied across the city, however, with some residents reporting little or no flooding away from the bay.
Jeanette Panning, who lives in Atlantic City, said a friend on the bayside had water up to the porch, while areas protected by dunes had fared better.
“This side very rarely floods because they’ve done such a great job with the dunes,” she said.
Nick Furnari, from Sussex County, said he had seen no flooding near the beach and boardwalk. “We’re right on ground level, like first street off the beach and boardwalk. It was totally fine,” he said.
