The summer rental business provides an opportunity to focus on the warmer months at the shore. I appreciate the break from reality and the opportunity to help so many families with their vacation plans.
This morning, the birds are chirping amid the snow flurries…it’s just wrong!
Last night, we saw the familiar flash of “blue”, and heard the snap, crackle, pop of a nearby transformer. The town fire siren went off…and so did our electric.
Fortunately, power was restored after a few hours. This morning- the only way to describe the weather is UGLY.  Sustained high winds with freight train like gusts. Snow blowing sideways from bay to beach. Not huge amounts of snow, but it’s still coming down and drifting.
This certainly has been a memorable February at the shore!
http://www.capemaycountyherald.com/article/59499-avalon+awards+beach+fill+contract
The Borough of Avalon awarded a contract to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company for the planned spring beach fill project. This will be a joint project between Avalon and Sea Isle City. More information in the attached article from the Cape May County Herald.
How to prepare for yet ANOTHER snow storm at the shore?Â
I saw 3 surfers taking advantage of the waves (that faint dot on the right hand side of the photo is a surfer).
And IÂ enjoyed a long walk on the beach while the sun faded behind the incoming clouds.
The realities of living on an island: if the 96th Street bridge is up…and stuck…it’s not easy to get home. Thankfully, there are other bridges on/off our barrier island.  Eventually, one driver in the long line of cars decides to turn around in search of another route, and many follow behind.
Of course, that’s when the bridge finally closes 🙂
Weather notice forwarded to me by my brother in law:
WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN MOUNT HOLLY HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING.
YET ANOTHER COASTAL STORM IS FORECAST TO AFFECT OUR AREA LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND INTO FRIDAY…WITH THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT THE PRIME TIMES FOR ACCUMULATING SNOW. AT THIS TIME SNOW AMOUNTS MAY AVERAGE AT LEAST 4 INCHES OVER THE NORTHEAST MARYLAND SHORE…DELAWARE…SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY…AND EXTREME SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA…AND 6 INCHES OVER EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND CENTRAL NEW JERSEY…BUT SIMILAR PREVIOUS STORMS HAVE DEPOSITED HEAVIER SNOW AMOUNTS. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE WITH THIS POTENTIAL STORM…SO DRIFTING AND BLOWING SNOW ARE POSSIBLE AS WELL.
A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW…SLEET…OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL.
CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.
Found beneath the melting snow: a large piece of corner curb and sidewalk displaced by a snow plow.Â
And speaking of melting snow – the distinct difference between north and south. Homes on the north side of the street have visible sidewalks and yards; the south side homes are still covered with snow. Today’s heavy rain should speed the process along!
I work for/with 2 former professional ice hockey players- both originally from “up north”.    The closest I’ve come to watching hockey is the movie Miracle on Ice.
Last night’s Olympic rivalry between Canada and the United States was a required viewing in our office.  And it was a good game, eh??
 The new 95th Street ocean side deck is set for summer…will be better once the snow melts!
Also new for this season- Avalon and Stone Harbor combined their annual Chamber of Commerce publications to create the  “Seven Mile Beach” 2010 Vacation Guide. Available in local businesses and Chamber offices now.
Thoughts of Hawaii
We also saw a memorial on the Big Island for a small village and school devastated by a tsunami.Â
As fellow island residents, we respect the power of the ocean- yet can’t imagine this particular event.  It must be especially frightening for the tourists on the islands.
P.S. Reading first person accounts of preparations on the islands via  www.twitter.com     Interesting to hear from those on vacation.
Saturday- 7 pm- A related comment about the evacuation and warnings in Hawaii:  It’s their tourist season, and the emergency management people were prepared for the worst.  Here at the Jersey Shore, a rare late summer hurricane warning has to be treated with the same level of caution. The safety of our vacationers and home owners comes first.