A strong northeaster caused minor to locally moderate tidal flooding along the New Jersey coast and in the back bays, wind gusts to around 50 mph and beach erosion. Tides, winds and erosion were worse in Ocean and Monmouth Counties than farther south. Inland the heavy rain on the 16th coupled with the heavy rains on the 10th and 11th softened the ground and wind gusts of around 45 mph pushed over several trees. Two downed trees damaged a home in Wall Township (Monmouth County). The trees subsequently pulled down wires and about 6,200 Jersey Central Power and Light and Conectiv Power Delivery customers lost power. In Ocean County most of the outages occurred in Berkeley, Dover and Lacey Townships. Most were restored by 9 p.m. EDT that evening. In Ortley Beach, siding was removed from a few homes. Peak wind gusts included 51 mph in Barnegat (Ocean County), 49 mph in Keansburg (Monmouth County) and 47 mph at Sandy Hook (Monmouth County).Tidal flooding increased farther north along the New Jersey Coast affecting Monmouth County the worst during the afternoon of the 16th. Streets were knee deep in water in Sea Bright. Water spilled over the docks along the Shark River and also in Manasquan Borough. Several roads were flooded in Manasquan and the Glimmer Glass Bridge was left in the open position. Tides reached 7.02 feet above mean low water at Sandy Hook and 6.08 feet above mean lower low water in Sea Bright (both in Monmouth County). Winds shifted to the northwest farther south along the coast and negated any minor tidal flooding south of Ocean County.   Beach erosion was mostly minor. A notable exception was Beach Haven Borough (Ocean County) where erosion was significant. The northeaster created a 5 foot cliff at Liberty Avenue. Elsewhere in the borough, the wave action tore away a set of stairs to the beach and freed the wreck of an unidentified ship. In North Wildwood (Cape May County), erosion was moderate. In Barnegat Light Borough (Ocean County), The wave action on the bay side caused the partial collapse of the bulkhead behind some homes along the Hackensack Lagoon. Damage was estimated in the tens of thousands and pieces of wood up to 12 feet long floating might damage the hulls of boats.          The northeaster developed in the Gulf of Mexico during the day on the 14th. It moved into the eastern gulf on the 15th and then northeast. It was about a 995 Mb low east of the Delmarva Peninsula around daybreak of the 16th and intensified to a 990 Mb low as it passed east of  the New Jersey coast during the afternoon of the 16th. By the morning of the 17th, it weakened as it moved through New England.

High Wind in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 16-OCT-02 06:00:00 to 16-OCT-02 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

High Wind in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 16-OCT-02 06:00:00 to 16-OCT-02 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

High Wind in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 16-OCT-02 06:00:00 to 16-OCT-02 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

High Wind in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 16-OCT-02 06:00:00 to 16-OCT-02 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Flood in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 16-OCT-02 14:00:00 to 16-OCT-02 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Flood in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 16-OCT-02 14:00:00 to 16-OCT-02 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Flood in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 16-OCT-02 14:00:00 to 16-OCT-02 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Flood in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 16-OCT-02 14:00:00 to 16-OCT-02 18:00:00 (EST)
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC