The combination of a strong high pressure system over the Canadian Maritimes, a low pressure system off the North Carolina Coast and spring tides caused by the full moon collaborated to produce widespread minor tidal flooding along the New Jersey coast during the evening of the 16th. The persistent onshore flow and rough surf for a couple of days also produced beach erosion. The evening high tide caused flooding in back yards, low lying areas and roadways, mainly near the back bays. What was left of the beach between Strathmere and Sea Isle City was under water during the high tide. The persistent onshore flow also caused minor to moderate beach erosion hitting locations on Long Beach Island (Ocean County) and from Long Branch to Sea Bright (Monmouth County) the hardest. In Cape May County, sand was scoured from Sea Isle City's north end beaches, Whale Beach in Strathmere, around 9th Street and the Music Pier in Ocean City and between 2nd and 18th Avenues in North Wildwood. Highest tides (all above mean lower low water included 8.20 feet in South Amboy (Middlesex County), 7.91 feet in Keansburg (Monmouth County), 7.55 feet in North Wildwood (Cape May County), 7.21 feet in Sandy Hook (Monmouth County), 7.05 feet at the Cape May Ferry Terminal (Cape May County), 6.96 feet in Cape May Harbor (Cape May County), 6.84 feet in Margate (Atlantic County) and 6.71 feet in Avalon (Cape May County). The minor tidal flooding was caused by a combination of factors. A strong high pressure system built into New England and the Canadian Maritimes on the 16th. It then built farther south into New England on the 17th. At the same time, a weak low pressure system formed near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina the morning of the 16th and moved slowly offshore. The circulation between the two systems brought on onshore flow to New Jersey. At the same time, the full moon was producing spring tides. The high pressure system built farther south by the evening high tide on the 17th and prevented further tidal flooding.

Storm Surge/Tide in EASTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in EASTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in EASTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in EASTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in MIDDLESEX, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in WESTERN ATLANTIC, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in WESTERN CAPE MAY, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in WESTERN MONMOUTH, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Storm Surge/Tide in WESTERN OCEAN, NEW JERSEY
From 16-MAY-03 18:30:00 to 16-MAY-03 22:30:00 (EST)
Crop damage: 0
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC