Saturday, July 31, 2021

Mostly Beautiful Saturday

Mornin'!  It's 67° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 65% with a dew point of 53°.  What a difference a day makes!  It's cool and refreshing and without questions feels like an autumn morning.  No Sun... just an overcast, cloudy sky with N-NE breezes at 7-9mph.  It's going to be a nice day today.  Expect a mix of clouds and sun with a high of 78° and Easterly breezes at 5-10mph.  Tonight... mainly cloudy, a stray shower or thunderstorm is possible with temps in the mid-upper 60s.  Winds will be light and variable.  Tomorrow... cloud cover in the morning evolving into a rain with afternoon rain showers (70% chance).  Temps will be in the mid-70s with SE winds at 10-20mph.  Monday... back to lovely sunny weather with temps around 80°.  It appears that next week could prove to be not that great in the weather department.  At this time, Tuesday and Wednesday appear cloud covered with temps in the 70s and Thursday and Friday look like rain.  I'll keep an eye on the week's upcoming weather.  
High tide: 2:12PM
Low tide: 7:45AM
Ocean temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:59AM
Sunset: 8:11PM
UV Index: 7
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,038,171
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,595
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,445
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 209

Friday, July 30, 2021

Happy Friday!


Not My Photo 

Mornin'!  It's 77° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up and shining brightly in the clear blue sky. Humidity's at 86% with a dew point of 74°.  Breezes are light out of the NW at 7-9mph.  It'll be a pleasant, summer day with mostly sunny conditions, temps in the low-mid 80s and breezes out of the NW at 10-15mph.  tonight... clear to partly cloudy, temps dropping into the low-70s (possibly upper 60s) with North winds at 10-15mph.  Tomorrow... mostly sunny (some cloud cover) with temps in the mid-upper 70s and NW winds at 5-10mph.  Sunday... beginning cloudy, possibly turning to showers in the late morning / early afternoon (60% chance), temps in the low-mid 70s. 
High tide: 1:27PM
Low tide: 6:58AM and 7:38PM
Ocean temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:59AM
Sunset: 8:12PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,037,052
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,590
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,403
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 209

It's Friday...  Fireworks on the beach tonight at 10pm and my Friday Beach Etiquette Tips ...  
~Things I pack for the beach... bottled water, a spray bottle of water for you never know what, a hat, footwear (it's amazing how many folk don't wear something on their feet when trekking the extremely hot, burning sand and even worse forget to put footwear on their children), towel, sunblock, insect repellent (for the West Wind Biting Flies), first aid kit (I include a tiny bottle of vinegar for jelly fish stings), some shade (umbrella or sand chair with lid/canopy), something to read, sanitizing wipes, a small trash bag to collect any trash you may accumulate, and I always bring my crocheting as I love to crochet on the beach.  Some of my best baby blankets are "salty". 
~When going to the beach and deciding where to set camp, kindly give those around you a little extra space as courtesy is key.  Careful not to plop down only inches from someone else's camp.  This one's amazing to me as I see "close proximity plopping" time and time again.  Most beaches (with the exception of North Wildwood) are huge yet folks set up camp only inches from those already there enjoying their quiet beach day.  The fact is, their encampment could have been literally 30 feet away allowing plenty of room between others blankets, chairs and umbrellas, yet it's only inches away!  It happens more often than not.  I have yet to figure it out.  Human connection needed perhaps?  Whatever, it's a very strange phenomenon.
~Setting up your umbrella... be aware of wind direction and wind speed.  If it's windy, take those extra steps to secure your umbrella (sand screws or grabbers) or bungee cord (you can secure your umbrella to your beach cart or cooler etc).  It's common to see how unsecured umbrellas can be as the wind launches them directly toward unknowing folks about to be impaled.  And, remember to open your umbrella into the wind otherwise, those gusts will be blowing your umbrella inside out making it almost impossible to control. 
~Know the time of your tides.  Always check with the lifeguard if unsure.  If the tide is at its highest, you can sit as close to the surf as you want as the tide will be taking the entire day to slip into low tide and the beach grows bigger and bigger.  It takes 6 hours for the tide to go from High to Low.
~Teach children beach etiquette.  Throwing sand is a no-no.  Teach them not to run or chase one another around someone laying on their blanket as the kicked up or thrown sand from the winds scatter over the person lying there peacefully.  I've had families whose little toddlers take off running from their campsite right to mine and onto my blanket before any adult could grab them.  I guess it's cute.  My advice to parents of young toddlers (1-2 year olds)... bring a "pack-n-play" for them as I can assure you that your day will be much more enjoyable with those babes confined.
~Remember when shaking out towels or blankets, be conscious of the wind direction and shake away from those in close proximity of your shaken sands.
~There is "no smoking" on the beach.  That includes pipes, vapes, cigars and marijuana.  Wildwood Crest has a designated smoking area for cigarette smoking.  There's "no smoking" of any kind on the boardwalk too.  As New Jersey has recently legalized Marijuana, you cannot smoke it in these small coastal towns as they've all outlawed it including Wildwood.  It's allowed on private property.
~Dogs are allowed on Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches from Oct-May.  Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at any time.  There are a couple of great beach dog-parks.  One at 3000 Glenwood Ave. at the beach and one in North Wildwood at 24th and the beach.  NW requires a permit and also posts that dogs are not allowed on the beach when lifeguards are present (9:30-5:30).  Dog's must be on a leash at all times when not in the dog parks.
~Never leave trash on the beach.  Better yet, pick up any you see whether it's yours or not.  There are many, many trash and recycle containers on the beach and sidewalks might as well use them. 
~If into music, remember your headphones.  Believe it or not, no one really wants to hear your blasting music drowning out the soothing sounds of the surf.  And, direct that (not too loud) speaker towards you, not to the other folks on the beach.
~Feeding seagulls is a big no-no.  Eat and snack smartly.  Using hands up or out when holding a sandwich to express oneself is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Drop just one potato chip and you'll create seagull havoc.  Eat under your umbrella or chair canopy.  Seagulls are vultures and are endlessly eyeing beach goers eating habits.  They're relentless in trying to find the opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  By the way, Seagulls know "chip bags" and if you have an unsupervised blanket or bag with chip bags exposed, they will help themselves to that bag and share their newly acquired beach find with their gull family and friends right there on your beach blanket and surrounding area.
~Playing ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, kite-flying, ladder toss, spike ball, paddle ball, volley ball, kan-jam, beach darts, etc., is a no-no where everyone's camped beaching.  The dune or emptier side of the beach is designated for those active beach games.  The beach patrol will probably stop you anyway. But, be mindful of those around you who are not in the game.
~Observe all posted warnings... beach closures, no alcohol or marijuana, rip currents, surfing only etc.  If in doubt, check with the lifeguards.  
~And lastly, be courteous.  Courtesy is key.  Be kind and considerate of everyone enjoying this beautiful moment along with you.  Happy Beaching!  

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Unsettled Thursday

Mornin'!  It's 74° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 92% with a dew point of 72°.  Everything is still damp from the overnight showers.  There's sunshine breaking through this morning's cloud cover as I type.  Breezes are out of the SE at 9-11mph.  Expect partly cloudy skies this morning followed by thicker cloud cover and scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon.  A few storms could be severe.  Temps will just about tap the 80° mark with winds kicking up a bit out of the South at 10-20mph.  Chance of rain today is 50%.  Tonight... 60% chance of rain (storms could be strong with gusty winds) with partly cloudy skies after midnight.  Temps will drop to where they are now... low 70s and SW winds at 15-25mph.  Tomorrow... plentiful sunshine, high of 85° and NW winds at 10-20mph.  The weekend is still looking 50-50 with Saturday looking like the better of the two days with plentiful sunshine and much lower humidity.  Sunday still looking unsettled with partly to mostly cloudy conditions and the possibility of rain beginning late morning.
High tide: 12:41PM
Low tide: 6:42AM
Ocean temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:59AM
Sunset: 8:13PM
UV Index: 6
Rip Current: Moderate risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,035,975
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,589
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,372
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 209

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

A Repeat Of Yesterday

Mornin'!  It's 74° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 97° with a dewpoint of 73°.  Breezes are barely there out of the W-NW at 3-5mph.  It's hazy and Ms Sun is obscured.  Hubby says the haze is due to the wild fires out West and the trail of smoke that's seeped into our atmosphere and sky.  One thing's for sure, it's humid as you can get without rain falling.  I forgot about yesterday's bathing suits on the backyard clothesline and took them down as soon as I saw them this morning and they were still wet.  That tells you how humid it is.  That also tells you how the weather will be again today... hazy, hot and humid.  Expect a warm one today with sunshine to start, then a few afternoon clouds.  A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible (15% chance).  Breezes will be out of the NE at 5-10mph.  Temps will be in the mid-upper 80s.  Tonight... partly cloudy, temps in the low-70s, winds out of the E-SE at 5-10mph with a 25% chance of a stray shower early.  Tomorrow... 50% chance of scattered showers and/or thunderstorms and a high of 80°.  As for this coming weekend... Saturday looks like the better of the two days as Sunday has rain in the forecast.  If heading to the beach today, remember to prepare smartly.  Don't forget the sunscreen, head wear, footwear, water and an umbrella as it's very hot on the beach with that piping hot beach sand.  

High tide: 11:53AM
Low tide: 5:52PM
Ocean temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:57AM
Sunset: 8:14PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,035,027
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,586
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,361
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 209

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Hazy Hot and Humid

Mornin'!  It's 81° in Wildwood NJ.  Feels like 87° with the humidity.  Humidity's 82% with a Dew point of 74°.  Ms Sun's up and the breezes are barely there out of the NW at 3-4mph.  The Blog took a back seat this morning as grocery shopping at 7AM took priority.  The Coast is extremely thick with visitors and if grocery shopping isn't done at the crack of dawn, then you're shit out of luck.  By that, I mean... much too crowded for me and of course empty, picked over super market shelves.  Yesterday, I went to Millville (45minute drive) to buy some of my personal staples that are not available here locally as proven by the empty shelves.  So, I'm now home, groceries are put away, I have my mug of coffee with warm sunshine pouring in my front porch windows. Thank god for air conditioning.  It's hazy, hot and humid out there.  Coming back onto the island this morning was cool as you could barely see the Ferris-wheel or any high buildings along the coast line.  Everything was hidden in the low-lying morning haze.  We're going to have another hot one (it got up to 93° yesterday) as temps are supposed to hit the mid-80s but I'm going with the low-mid 90s.  Expect abundant sunshine, and hazy, hot, humid conditions with S-SW breezes at 5-10mph.  There's a 20% chance of afternoon rains.  Tonight... clear skies, low-mid 70s (went to bed around 11pm last night and it was 79°) with breezes out of the SW at 5-10mph.  Tomorrow... mostly sunny in the AM and scattered showers and/or thunderstorms developing in the afternoon (40% chance).  If heading to the beach today... prepare smartly.  Wear footwear, pack plenty of water and don't forget some kind of covering (shirt, umbrella, hooded sandchair etc).  It'll be a hot one today on that beach. 
High tide: 11:03AM
Low tide: 5:05AM
Ocean temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:56AM
Sunset: 8:15PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,034,233
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,579
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,350
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 209

Monday, July 26, 2021

Monday Mix of Sun and Clouds

Mornin'!  It's 74° in Wildwood NJ.  No sunshine again this morning.  We've got some cloud cover as Ms Sun's beginning to reach above it and begin shining on the island.  Humidity's at 90% along with a dew point of 72°.  Breezes are out of the SW at 4-7mph.  It's one of those partly gray, still, humid mornings.  It's aromatic though with briny, marshy fragrance penetrating the heavy air.  It's going to be partly cloudy today with a 20% of rain showers and/or thunderstorms in the afternoon with temps in the mid-upper 80s and SW winds at 5-10mph.  Tonight... partly cloudy, patchy fog overnight, temps in the low-70s with SW winds at 5-10mph.  Tomorrow... some fog in the early morning, otherwise a lovely, warm, sunny day with temps in the mid-upper 80s and NW breezes becoming W-SW at 5-10mph.  If you're up for an Irish Marching Band, they'll be marching down the boardwalk tonight (every Monday night at 7:30pm) from 16th to Montgomery Avenues.
High Tide: 10:11AM
Low Tide: 4:18PM
Ocean Temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:55AM
Sunset: 8:16PM
UV Index: 7
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,033,712
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,575
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,344
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Sunday, July 25, 2021

Very Breezy Mostly Cloudy Sunday

Mornin'!  It's 72° in Wildwood NJ.  Just clouds this morning with stiff breezes out of the S-SW at 18-22mph +gusting.  Humidity's 87% with a dew point of 69°.  There's a chance of showers and thunderstorms this morning.  It'll be a cloudy the first half of the day with gradual sunshine peeking through this afternoon's cloud cover. There's also a slight chance of rain (40% chance) this afternoon.  Temps will get into the mid-upper 80s with very stiff breezes out of the S-SW at 20-25mph +gusting.  Tonight... mostly cloudy, temps back into the low-70s with Southerly breezes at 15-25mph.  Chance of rain is 30%.  Tomorrow... partly cloudy and high of 87° with Southwest breezes at 5-10mph.  Chance of rain is 30%.  Tuesday... perfection with plenty of sunshine, temps in the mid-upper 80s and North winds at 5-8mph.
High Tide: 9:20AM
Low Tide: 3:30PM
Ocean Temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:54AM
Sunset: 8:17PM
UV Index: 7-8
Rip Current: Moderate Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,033,116
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,573
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,342
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Saturday, July 24, 2021

Christmas In July

Mornin'!  It's 68° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up and warming things up with humidity at 87%, the dewpoint at 64° and NW breezes very light at 2-4mph.  It's going to be another beauty today with temps in the low-80s, North winds shifting to the S-SE (in the afternoon) at 5-10mph and plenty of sunshine.  Tonight... partly cloudy with showers possibly coming after midnight (30% chance).  Temps will drop into the low-70s with S-SW winds at 10-15mph. Tomorrow... we could wake to rain showers with it becoming a mostly cloudy day (some peeks of sunshine in the afternoon), temps near 80° and much breezier... S-SW winds at 20-30mph.  Monday looks unsettled... cloudy, with isolated rain showers and/or thunderstorms.  Tuesday looks like the beginning of a really nice stretch of weather for the remainder of the week.  It's Christmas In July on the island today.  Merry Christmas!  Expect to see house decorations, Santa on North Wildwood's beach around 1pm and tonight... the Wildwood Crest Christmas (decorated) Boat Parade on Sunset Lake beginning around dusk.  
High tide: 8:29AM
Low tide: 2:38PM
Ocean temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:53AM
Sunset: 8:17PM
Moonrise: 9:15PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,032,255
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,568
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,336
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208





Friday, July 23, 2021

Full Moon Friday

This Morning's Webcam shot - North Wildwood

Mornin'!  It's 67° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's doing her best to shine through the morning cloud cover making for a spectacular sunrise.  It's cool and a bit crisp this morning with humidity at 80% and a dew point of 61°.  Breezes are light out of the North at 2-5mph.  It's got that autumn, first day of school feel to it outside!  These morning clouds will give way to sunny skies today as temps get into the low-80s.  NW breezes at 5-10mph today will switch to the SW later this afternoon.  Tonight... clear, moonlit skies with a low of 67° again with light and variable winds.  Tomorrow... a repeat of today.  Sunday... waking to rain showers with a partly to mostly cloudy day and a high of 80° and Monday... mostly cloudy day with 40% chance of rain in the forecast.  Tuesday looks picture perfect.  
High tides: 7:37AM and 7:57PM
Low tides: 1:45PM
Ocean temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:53AM
Sunset: 8:18PM
Moonrise: 8:29PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,031,346
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,564
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,332
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208
It's Friday and you know what that means... Fireworks on the beach tonight at 10pm and my Friday Beach Etiquette Tips ...  
~Things I pack for the beach... bottled water, a spray bottle of water for you never know what, a hat, footwear (it's amazing how many folk don't wear something on their feet when trekking the extremely hot, burning sand and even worse forget to put footwear on their children), towel, sunblock, insect repellent (for the West Wind Biting Flies), first aid kit (I include a tiny bottle of vinegar for jelly fish stings), some shade (umbrella or sand chair with lid/canopy), something to read, sanitizing wipes, a small trash bag to collect any trash you may accumulate, and I always bring my crocheting as I love to crochet on the beach.  Some of my best baby blankets are "salty". 
~When going to the beach and deciding where to set camp, kindly give those around you a little extra space as courtesy is key.  Careful not to plop down only inches from someone else's camp.  This one's amazing to me as I see "close proximity plopping" time and time again.  Most beaches (with the exception of North Wildwood) are huge yet folks set up camp only inches from those already there enjoying their quiet beach day.  The fact is, their encampment could have been literally 30 feet away allowing plenty of room between others blankets, chairs and umbrellas, yet it's only inches away!  It happens more often than not.  I have yet to figure it out.  Human connection needed perhaps?  Whatever, it's a very strange phenomenon.
~Setting up your umbrella... be aware of wind direction and wind speed.  If it's windy, take those extra steps to secure your umbrella (sand screws or grabbers) or bungee cord (you can secure your umbrella to your beach cart or cooler etc).  It's common to see how unsecured umbrellas can be as the wind launches them directly toward unknowing folks about to be impaled.  And, remember to open your umbrella into the wind otherwise, those gusts will be blowing your umbrella inside out making it almost impossible to control. 
~Know the time of your tides.  Always check with the lifeguard if unsure.  If the tide is at its highest, you can sit as close to the surf as you want as the tide will be taking the entire day to slip into low tide and the beach grows bigger and bigger.  It takes 6 hours for the tide to go from High to Low.
~Teach children beach etiquette.  Throwing sand is a no-no.  Teach them not to run or chase one another around someone laying on their blanket as the kicked up or thrown sand from the winds scatter over the person lying there peacefully.  I've had families whose little toddlers take off running from their campsite right to mine and onto my blanket before any adult could grab them.  I guess it's cute.  My advice to parents of young toddlers (1-2 year olds)... bring a "pack-n-play" for them as I can assure you that your day will be much more enjoyable with those babes confined.
~Remember when shaking out towels or blankets, be conscious of the wind direction and shake away from those in close proximity of your shaken sands.
~There is "no smoking" on the beach.  That includes pipes, vapes, cigars and marijuana.  Wildwood Crest has a designated smoking area for cigarette smoking.  There's "no smoking" of any kind on the boardwalk too.  As New Jersey has recently legalized Marijuana, you cannot smoke it in these small coastal towns as they've all outlawed it including Wildwood.  It's allowed on private property.
~Dogs are allowed on Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches from Oct-May.  Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at any time.  There are a couple of great beach dog-parks.  One at 3000 Glenwood Ave. at the beach and one in North Wildwood at 24th and the beach.  NW requires a permit and also posts that dogs are not allowed on the beach when lifeguards are present (9:30-5:30).  Dog's must be on a leash at all times when not in the dog parks.
~Never leave trash on the beach.  Better yet, pick up any you see whether it's yours or not.  There are many, many trash and recycle containers on the beach and sidewalks might as well use them. 
~If into music, remember your headphones.  Believe it or not, no one really wants to hear your blasting music drowning out the soothing sounds of the surf.  And, direct that (not too loud) speaker towards you, not to the other folks on the beach.
~Feeding seagulls is a big no-no.  Eat and snack smartly.  Using hands up or out when holding a sandwich to express oneself is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Drop just one potato chip and you'll create seagull havoc.  Eat under your umbrella or chair canopy.  Seagulls are vultures and are endlessly eyeing beach goers eating habits.  They're relentless in trying to find the opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  By the way, Seagulls know "chip bags" and if you have an unsupervised blanket or bag with chip bags exposed, they will help themselves to that bag and share their newly acquired beach find with their gull family and friends right there on your beach blanket and surrounding area.
~Playing ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, kite-flying, ladder toss, spike ball, paddle ball, volley ball, kan-jam, beach darts, etc., is a no-no where everyone's camped beaching.  The dune or emptier side of the beach is designated for those active beach games.  The beach patrol will probably stop you anyway. But, be mindful of those around you who are not in the game.
~Observe all posted warnings... beach closures, no alcohol or marijuana, rip currents, surfing only etc.  If in doubt, check with the lifeguards.  
~And lastly, be courteous.  Courtesy is key.  Be kind and considerate of everyone enjoying this beautiful moment along with you.  Happy Beaching!  

Thursday, July 22, 2021

Good To Go After A Nice Dousing!

Mornin'!  It's 67° in Wildwood NJ (no typo).  Ms Sun's up and shining.  Humidity's 81% with a Dew Point of 62° and breezes are very light out of the North at 6-8mph.  What a difference a day makes!  It almost has a feel of Autumn in this morning's air.  It's quite amazing to feel 10° cooler than what these recent summer mornings have been.  Last evening's storms including thunder and lightning brought torrential rains and a fantastic watering.  With the house lights blinking from the lightning strikes and winds, and torrential, tropical rains that you could barely see through, we had some serious street flooding. Thankfully, no damage and the flood waters subsided and dried up in no time.  No need to pull out the hose and water today as the gardens are far from thirsty. Expect a mix of sun and clouds today with temps tapping 80°.  North winds will shift from the W-SW at 10-15mph.  Tonight.. partly cloudy, back down into the mid-60s with light and variable winds.  Tomorrow... a repeat of today.  As for the weekend... Saturday looks like another repeat of today with Sunday coming in much cloudier and breezier.  Also, remember it'll be a Full Moon tomorrow and we're already seeing the tides much higher than normal.  No doubt that tide water will be seeping onto the island in those low-lying areas during high tide times.  Best to keep away from salty tide water when driving or parking.
High tide: 6:40AM and 7:05PM
Low tide: 12:48PM
Ocean temp: 75°
Sunrise: 5:52AM
Sunset: 8:19PM
Moonrise: 7:35PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,030,600
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,562
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,331
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Wednesday, July 21, 2021

Nice Start To The Day With Unsettled Weather Due In

Mornin'!  It's 75° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up! Humidity's 87% with a Dew Point of 73°.  Breezes are light out of the West at 7-9mph.  It'll be a hazy, sunny morning leading into the afternoon.  By then, it'll become partly sunny / partly cloudy.  Temps will be in the mid-80s.  There's a 50% chance of scattered showers and/or thunderstorms by this afternoon.  There's also a potential for severe storms.  The "west" winds are sticking around at 10-15mph.  Tonight... some cloud cover with 25% chance of rain showers giving way to clear skies overnight.  Those "west" winds will turn to N-NW at 5-10mph tonight.  Tomorrow... partly sunny, low-80s, NW breezes at 5-10mph.  At this time, the weekend's looking 50-50 with Saturday being the nicer of the two days... mostly sunny, 80° and light Southerly breezes with Sunday being mostly cloudy, very breezy and scattered showers in the early part of the day as well as later in the evening.  Oh, the Full Moon is Friday! 
High tide: 6:09PM
Low tide: 11:51AM
Ocean temp: 74°
Sunrise: 5:51AM
Sunset: 8:20PM
UV Index: 8
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,029,901
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,557
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,329
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Hazy, Hot, Humid

North Wildwood - This Morning's Webcam Shot
Mornin'!  It's 74° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun is up and finally breaking through the morning haze.  We've got some milky cloud cover at the moment as it's one of those hazy, warm, humid, tropical-feeling mornings on the island.  Humidity's 90% with a Dew Point of 73°.  It's still with breezes barely being felt out of the W-NW at 2-3mph.  We've also got the lovely briny aromas coming off the ocean and marsh.  It's thick but invigorating.  It's going to be a lovely day with plenty of sunshine, temps in the mid-upper 80s, and W-SW winds at 5-10mph.  Tonight... clear, temps in the low-mid 70s with S-SW winds at 9-11mph.  Tomorrow... mostly sunny with a stray shower or thunderstorm possible and high of 85°.  The "West" winds are combined in the wind direction today and tonight.  Just a reminder that those biting greenhead flies could possibly be visiting the island and specifically the beach with those breezes. So pack the insect repellent.  They may not even bother you as they mostly hit the beach when the wind direction is just "west".  But, it's better to be safe than sorry.  
High tide: 5:08PM
Low tide: 10:52AM
Ocean temp: 74°
Sunrise: 5:50AM
Sunset: 8:21PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,029,243
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,545
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,325
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Monday, July 19, 2021

Looking Like A Mostly Cloudy Monday

Mornin'!  It's 75° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 74% with a dew point of 67°.  Breezes are currently out of the NW at 5-10mph.  And, it's cloudy with Ms Sun trying to break through and so far, hasn't made it.  It's bright and hazy though and feels really nice this morning with that much lower humidity.  Ms Sun will eventually make it through this morning but by this afternoon will be obscured by cloud cover.  Expect a partly cloudy morning giving way to cloudy skies this afternoon.  Temps will be in the mid-80s with West winds at 10-15mph.  Tonight... partly cloudy with a low of 72° and W-SW winds at 5-10mph.  Tomorrow... generally sunny with a few afternoon clouds, high of 84° and W-SW winds at 10-15mph.  Just a reminder about any West winds wafting over the island... they somehow carry those biting greenhead flies so if outside today (beach, boating, fishing etc), remember the insect repellent.  The "greenheads" mean business. 
High tide: 4:06PM
Low tide: 9:52AM
Ocean temp: 74°
Sunrise: 5:49AM
Sunset: 8:21PM
UV Index: 7
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,028,931
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,539
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,329
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Sunday, July 18, 2021

Partly Sunny Sunday

Mornin'!  It's 71° in Wildwood NJ. Humidity's 92% with a dew point of 74°.  Breezes are out of the W-SW at 10-13mph.   After the rains last night (we had some thunder-boomers beginning later in the evening), it feels a bit more refreshing than the last couple mornings when stepping outside.  Everything's been watered nicely and we're still a bit drippy.  Ms Sun's doing her best to break through the leftover clouds. The dry-out is happening.  Expect a mix of sun and clouds today with temps in the mid-80s.  Those "West" winds are on today's forecast at 10-20mph.  You know what that means... pack the insect repellent along with the umbrella bungee cord.  By the way, a friend of mine recently posted on social media that a product called "Buzz Away Extreme", a plant based insect repellent that works splendidly for those West Wind biting green-head flies as well as mosquitoes and gnats.  Just an fyi.  Tonight... partly cloudy skies giving way to cloud cover with temps near 70° and W-NW winds at 10-15mph.  Tomorrow and Tuesday... partly sunny, temps in the low-mid 80s and West winds at 10-15mph.  
High Tide: 3:05AM
Low Tide: 8:49AM and 9:46PM
Ocean Temp: 74°
Sunrise: 5:49AM
Sunset: 8:22PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: moderate
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,028,503
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,536
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,326
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Saturday, July 17, 2021

(Mostly) Sunny Saturday

Mornin'!  It's 77° in Wildwood NJ.  We've got humidity again... 90% with a dew point of 76°.  We've got very light breezes out of the S-SW at 6-9mph.  We've got Ms Sun.  The sky is just slightly hazy yet Ms Sun's shining through in the blue sky and beginning today's warm up.  Today's weather will be just another repeat from every day this past week.  I got to the beach 4x this week I'm happy to report two of those days were with my grandbabies! 

Today's weather will be partly sunny to partly cloudy  with temps in the mid-80s and Southerly breezes at 15-20mph (don't forget to pack an anchor of some sort for those beach umbrellas).  Tonight... by 7-8pm, there will be 75-80% cloud cover with 80% chance of rain and that includes a passing shower and/or thunderstorms and some storms contain very strong gusty winds.  More than likely, rain will continue overnight into Sunday morning.  Temps will be in the mid-70s with S-SW winds at 15-20mph.  Tomorrow... beginning partly cloudy becoming partly sunny, mid-upper 80s and a 40% chance of rain. 
High tide: 2:09PM
Low tides: 7:46AM and 8:36PM
Ocean temp: 74°
Sunrise: 5:48AM
Sunset: 8:23PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Moderate Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,027,954
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,531
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,322
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208 

Friday, July 16, 2021

TGIF!

Mornin'!  Happy Friday!  It's 77° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 88% with a dew point of 76° making it feel like 88° and very much like a Key West morning and I'm loving it!  Breezes are light out of the SW at 5-7mph.  It's hazy, a bit muggy and fragrant.  The aroma of the salty ocean has encased the island and I'm loving that too!  It'll be a mostly sunny day again today.  Expect very warm conditions... upper 80s (possibly in the low-90's) with the high humidity making it feel like the 90s.  Wind will be out of the S-SW at 8-11mph.  Tonight... mostly clear, low around 75° and S-SW winds at 10-15mph.  Tomorrow... generally sunny with a few afternoon clouds with temps in the low-mid 80s, breezes kicked up out of the S-SW at 10-20mph and 50% chance of rain by evening.  Sunday... probably waking to rain, much cooler with temps in the mid-upper 70s and mostly cloudy with rain on the menu Sunday night.  Monday looks like a mostly cloudy day with 30-50% chance of rain mostly in the first half of the day.
High Tide: 1:17PM
Low Tide: 7:24PM
Ocean Temp: 74°
Sunrise: 5:47AM
Sunset: 8:23PM
UV index: 9
Rip Current: Low Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,027,460
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,529
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,322
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

It's Friday and you know what that means... you're not only getting fireworks on the beach tonight at 10pm but you're getting my Friday Beach Etiquette Tips again...  
~Things I pack for the beach... bottled water, a spray bottle of water for you never know what, a hat, footwear (it's amazing how many folk don't wear something on their feet when trekking the extremely hot, burning sand and even worse forget to put footwear on their children), towel, sunblock, insect repellent (for the West Wind Biting Flies), first aid kit (I include a tiny bottle of vinegar for jelly fish stings), some shade (umbrella or sand chair with lid/canopy), something to read, sanitizing wipes, a small trash bag to collect any trash you may accumulate, and I always bring my crocheting as I love to crochet on the beach.  Some of my best baby blankets are "salty". 
~When going to the beach and deciding where to set camp, kindly give those around you a little extra space as courtesy is key.  Careful not to plop down only inches from someone else's camp.  This one's amazing to me as I see "close proximity plopping" time and time again.  Most beaches (with the exception of North Wildwood) are huge yet folks set up camp only inches from those already there enjoying their quiet beach day.  The fact is, their encampment could have been literally 30 feet away allowing plenty of room between others blankets, chairs and umbrellas, yet it's only inches away!  It happens more often than not.  I have yet to figure it out.  Human connection needed perhaps?  Whatever, it's a very strange phenomenon.
~Setting up your umbrella... be aware of wind direction and wind speed.  If it's windy, take those extra steps to secure your umbrella (sand screws or grabbers) or bungee cord (you can secure your umbrella to your beach cart or cooler etc).  It's common to see how unsecured umbrellas can be as the wind launches them directly toward unknowing folks about to be impaled.  And, remember to open your umbrella into the wind otherwise, those gusts will be blowing your umbrella inside out making it almost impossible to control. 
~Know the time of your tides.  Always check with the lifeguard if unsure.  If the tide is at its highest, you can sit as close to the surf as you want as the tide will be taking the entire day to slip into low tide and the beach grows bigger and bigger.  It takes 6 hours for the tide to go from High to Low.
~Teach children beach etiquette.  Throwing sand is a no-no.  Teach them not to run or chase one another around someone laying on their blanket as the kicked up or thrown sand from the winds scatter over the person lying there peacefully.  I've had families whose little toddlers take off running from their campsite right to mine and onto my blanket before any adult could grab them.  I guess it's cute.  My advice to parents of young toddlers (1-2 year olds)... bring a "pack-n-play" for them as I can assure you that your day will be much more enjoyable with those babes confined.
~Remember when shaking out towels or blankets, be conscious of the wind direction and shake away from those in close proximity of your shaken sands.
~There is "no smoking" on the beach.  That includes pipes, vapes, cigars and marijuana.  Wildwood Crest has a designated smoking area for cigarette smoking.  There's "no smoking" of any kind on the boardwalk too.  As New Jersey has recently legalized Marijuana, you cannot smoke it in these small coastal towns as they've all outlawed it including Wildwood.  It's allowed on private property.
~Dogs are allowed on Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches from Oct-May.  Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at any time.  There are a couple of great beach dog-parks.  One at 3000 Glenwood Ave. at the beach and one in North Wildwood at 24th and the beach.  NW requires a permit and also posts that dogs are not allowed on the beach when lifeguards are present (9:30-5:30).  Dog's must be on a leash at all times when not in the dog parks.
~Never leave trash on the beach.  Better yet, pick up any you see whether it's yours or not.  There are many, many trash and recycle containers on the beach and sidewalks might as well use them. 
~If into music, remember your headphones.  Believe it or not, no one really wants to hear your blasting music drowning out the soothing sounds of the surf.  And, direct that (not too loud) speaker towards you, not to the other folks on the beach.
~Feeding seagulls is a big no-no.  Eat and snack smartly.  Using hands up or out when holding a sandwich to express oneself is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Drop just one potato chip and you'll create seagull havoc.  Eat under your umbrella or chair canopy.  Seagulls are vultures and are endlessly eyeing beach goers eating habits.  They're relentless in trying to find the opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  By the way, Seagulls know "chip bags" and if you have an unsupervised blanket or bag with chip bags exposed, they will help themselves to that bag and share their newly acquired beach find with their gull family and friends right there on your beach blanket and surrounding area.
~Playing ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, kite-flying, ladder toss, spike ball, paddle ball, volley ball, kan-jam, beach darts, etc., is a no-no where everyone's camped beaching.  The dune or emptier side of the beach is designated for those active beach games.  The beach patrol will probably stop you anyway. But, be mindful of those around you who are not in the game.
~Observe all posted warnings... beach closures, no alcohol or marijuana, rip currents, surfing only etc.  If in doubt, check with the lifeguards.  
~And lastly, be courteous.  Courtesy is key.  Be kind and considerate of everyone enjoying this beautiful moment along with you.  Happy Beaching!  


Thursday, July 15, 2021

Season Of The Perseid Meteor Showers

Credit: CBS News
Mornin'!  It's 75° in Wildwood NJ.  The hazy, warm, humid start to the day continues.  We've got Ms Sun up and shining down,  humidity at 90% with a 71° dewpoint.  Breezes are light out of the W-SW at 4-6mph.  Today's forecast will have a mix of clouds and sun with a high of 85° (yesterday, we reached 90°) and S-SW winds at 5-10mph.  Tonight... light cloud cover, temps back where they are now (mid-70s) and S-SW winds at 5-10mph.  There's a 20% chance of rain tonight.  Tomorrow... same forecast as today with temps possibly hitting 90s.  The weekend's looking like Saturday will be the nicer of the two days as Sunday's looking unsettled with possible rain showers and/or thunderstorms in the morning and the afternoon.  We've just entered the Season of the Perseid Meteor Showers (7/14-8/24) with 8/11-8/13 being the predicted peak this year.  The Perseids is perhaps the most beloved of all Meteor Showers of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.  It's rich and steady with meteors.  They appear in all parts of the sky, leaving persistent trains.  They tend to strengthen in number as late night deepens and again typically producing the most meteors in the wee hours before dawn.  
High Tide: 12:27PM
Low Tide: 6:21PM
Ocean Temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:46AM
Sunset: 8:24PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,027,014
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,520
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,322
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Another Perfect Day For Dipping

Mornin'!  It's 76° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 90% with a 74° dewpoint.  Ms Sun's up and has got the whole show to herself with not a cloud in the sky.  Those light SW tropical breezes at 6-9mph are wafting (wifting) over the island.  It'll be a repeat of yesterday and Monday with sunny, hazy conditions, temps in the mid-upper 80s and SW breezes at 10-15mph.  Tonight... some clouds filter in with temps in the low-mid 70s with winds light and variable.  Tomorrow... more of the same.  Keep in mind, with this build up of heat and humidity, we could always get a stray shower and/or thunderstorm so keep your eye on the sky (or doppler)... there's a 15% chance of that happening.  We haven't had any watering since last Thursday into Friday by the way so we've been drying out other than that humidity keeping the sweat flowing.  If heading to the beach, remember footwear as the beach sand is hot.   As for this coming weekend... looking like Saturday's the better of the two days with warm temps and sunny skies.  Sunday's looking like we may wake to rain showers as well as go to bed with them.  I'll keep you posted. 
High tide: 11:38AM
Low tide: 5:31PM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:46AM
Sunset: 8:24PM
UV Index: 10
Rip Currents: Low Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,026,649
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,517
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,320
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208


Tuesday, July 13, 2021

A Hot One

Mornin'!  It's 80° in Wildwood NJ.  It's a warm one already.  Humidity's 81% with a dewpoint of 75°.  Ms Sun's up and heating up the island.  Breezes are out of the SW at 7-9mph.  Due to lots of interrupted sleep by those very loud outside forces, I slept in and haven't woke this late in a very long time.  Waking late gives you a much warmer morning that 5-6AM that's for sure.  But first thing's first and that was watering the gardens before blogging.  They were looking thirsty since we didn't get any rain showers or thunderstorms yesterday or last night.   So, I'm a little late.

Today's weather... plenty of sunshine to start the day with a few afternoon clouds rolling in.  Temps will be in the mid-upper 80s.  I wouldn't be surprised if we hit the 90° mark with how warm it's already feeling out there.  Of course that possibility of a stray shower or thunderstorm is possible with the build up of heat.  The winds will be out of the South today at 10-15mph.  Tonight... a few passing clouds, temps in the mid-70s and S-SW winds at 10-15mph.  Tomorrow... same as today and possibly even warmer.  Pack plenty of suncreen and water.  Oh... don't forget footwear if going to the beach.  Yesterday, I saw a man put a child down to walk.  I guess he was thinking they were close enough to the ocean for cooler sand... nope.  The minute her little feet hit the sand, she began screaming in pain.  Our beach sand is excruciatingly hot!!!  Think people! 
High tide: 10:52AM
Low tide: 4:47PM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:45AM
Sunset: 8:25PM
UV Index: 10
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,026,286
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,509
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,317
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Monday, July 12, 2021

Hazy, Hot and Humid Monday

Mornin'!  It's 71° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up through the morning haze.  It's one of the hazy, humid, warm mornings... humidity's 97% with a dew point of 74°.  Breezes are light out of the S-SW at 8-10mph.  Expect a mostly sunny day with some of the hazy clouds filtering through every now and then.  A stray shower or thunderstorm is always possible on days like this (15% chance).  Temps will be in the mid-80s with S-SW breezes at 10-15mph.  Tonight... partly cloudy, low around 76° and S-SW breezes at 15-20mph.  And again, there's always that possibility of a passing summer evening shower and/or thunderstorm.  Tomorrow... partly sunny, mid-80s and S-SW breezes.  
High tide: 10:08AM
Low tide: 4:06PM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:44AM
Sunset: 8:25PM
UV index: 10
Rip Currents: Moderate risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,026,071
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,505
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,315
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Sunday, July 11, 2021

Hazy Sunny Sunday

Mornin'!  It's 73° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up and trying her best to shine but the hazy cloud cover is keep her at bay.  It's kind of a still and muggy morning with humidity at 93% and a dew point of 70°.  Breezes are very light and currently out of the South at 2-4mph.  Expect a mostly sunny day today with temps just about tapping 80° and S-SE breezes at  5-10 and by the afternoon... 10-15mph.  Tonight... still humid, a bit more clouds and some patchy fog with a low of 74° and Southerly breezes at 10-15mph.  There's a 25% chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm this evening into later tonight.  Tomorrow... mostly sunny day with temps in the mid-upper 80s.  Most of the weekend events are still going strong today... Anglesea BBQ-Blues Fest ends this evening, the Wildwood Crest Food Truck Fest is today along Sunset Lake, and that Jeep Invasion and the Beach Flag Football on the beach is continuing today.  There's also a free Concert at Fox Park tonight at 7:30 with a 6-piece horn band playing those Motown Favorites!
High tide: 9:27AM
Low tide: 3:25PM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:44AM
Sunset: 8:26PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Low risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,025,788
Corona Virus Deaths in  NJ: 26,501
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,312
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Saturday, July 10, 2021

Jammed Pack Weekend

Mornin'!  It's 73° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms Sun's up and shining brightly through the cloudless sky this morning.  Breezes are light out of the N-NW at 4-6mph.  It's not as humid... humidity's 89% with a dew point of 70°.  And, it's lovely outside.  The island birds can vouch for me!  It'll be a perfect day for sand sculpting, Flag Football Tournament for the kids behind Moreys Pier, taking in the Jeep Invasion, hitting the BBQ-Blues Fest  in North Wildwood for some fantastic eats and music, and of course the weekly Farmers Market this morning!  Oh, tomorrow in the Crest (along the Lake) will be the fabulous Food Truck Festival. 

It'll be a pleasant day today with sunny to mostly sunny conditions.  There's a 15% chance of a passing stray shower or thunderstorm later.  Temps will be in the low-80s with W-NW breezes at 5-10mph.  Tonight... partly cloudy, temps just tapping 70° and breezes will shift from the S-SE at 5-10mph.  Keep in mind with today's breezes (W-NW) you might want to keep that insect repellent close by as any breeze with "West" in it, may carry those biting green head flies.  Of course, you may want to coat yourself in oils of lemongrass, citrus, peppermint, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, citronella or lavender to keep the flies in check on a more "natural" level.  But if the winds are coming from the land (West Winds) and are the main breeze of the day, you can almost be guaranteed the flies joining in your party.  If it's W-NW or N-NW or anything with "West" added to the direction of the breeze then it's hit or miss. For tomorrow's weather... considerable cloudiness early but with clouds decreasing as the day progresses and by late afternoon/early evening, we should see sunshine right into the lovely sunset.  The same for tomorrow as today in regard to the possibility of a passing shower or thunderstorm.  Temps will barely tap 80° with SE breezes at 10-15mph.  As for Monday... just thought I'd add this in as it's the same as Sunday... partly cloudy, chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm, with temps in the upper 70 / low 80s.  Always keep your eye on the sky! 
High tide: 8:47AM
Low tide: 2:43PM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:43AM
Sunset: 8:26PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Currents: Moderate risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,025,477
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,496
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,310
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Friday, July 9, 2021

TGIF And Happy Weekend!


Mornin'!  It's 73° in Wildwood NJ.  We're saturated from the overnight torrents of rain (2½" inches) with no watering needed this  morning! It's windy... NW at 20-30mph +gusting.  It's gray with plenty of leftover cloud cover.   Ms Sun's trying to peek through as I blog.  It's very humid... 96% with a dew point of 73°.  It fragrant... we've got a very briny, fishy aroma from the stirred up ocean, marsh and soaking sands.  It's perfectly lovely.  We're going to start out today with partly cloudy skies, then Ms Sun begins shining throughout most of the day providing a mix of sun and clouds. Temps will be in the mid-upper 80s with winds out of the W-SW at 10-20mph.  By late this afternoon... the clouds begin to drift back in providing a 30-50% chance of isolated showers and/or thunderstorms later today into this evening.  By late tonight into the overnight... we could see foggy conditions as temps drop to the low-70s with SW winds at 10-15mph.  Tomorrow... mostly sunny, high near 85° and NW winds at 5-10mph.  Sunday... partly sunny, upper 70s, and a slight chance of showers (30% chance).  
High tide: 8:06AM and 8:10PM
Low tide: 2:00PM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:42AM
Sunset: 8:27PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: High Risk (Red Zone) Check with the lifeguards before entering the surf as it's dangerous conditions right now.
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,025,079
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,493
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,310
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Not My Photo 
Lots going on this weekend.  It's the Anglesea BBQ-Blues Festival beginning tonight up in the North Wildwood region on Old New Jersey Ave.!  It's the Wildwood Crest sand sculpting contest at Heather and the Beach.  And, it's The Wildwood's "Jeep Invasion" this weekend and Jeeps are already everywhere!  





Oh... and it's Friday and that means you're not only getting fireworks on the beach tonight at 10pm but you're getting my Friday Beach Etiquette Tips again...  
~Things I pack for the beach... bottled water, a spray bottle of water for you never know what, a hat, footwear (it's amazing how many folk don't wear something on their feet when trekking the extremely hot, burning sand and even worse forget to put footwear on their children), towel, sunblock, insect repellent (for the West Wind Biting Flies), first aid kit (I include a tiny bottle of vinegar for jelly fish stings), some shade (umbrella or sand chair with lid/canopy), something to read, sanitizing wipes, a small trash bag to collect any trash you may accumulate, and I always bring my crocheting as I love to crochet on the beach.  Some of my best baby blankets are "salty". 
~When going to the beach and deciding where to set camp, kindly give those around you a little extra space as courtesy is key.  Careful not to plop down only inches from someone else's camp.  This one's amazing to me as I see "close proximity plopping" time and time again.  Most beaches (with the exception of North Wildwood) are huge yet folks set up camp only inches from those already there enjoying their quiet beach day.  The fact is, their encampment could have been literally 30 feet away allowing plenty of room between others blankets, chairs and umbrellas, yet it's only inches away!  It happens more often than not.  I have yet to figure it out.  Human connection needed perhaps?  Whatever, it's a very strange phenomenon.
~Setting up your umbrella... be aware of wind direction and wind speed.  If it's windy, take those extra steps to secure your umbrella (sand screws or grabbers) or bungee cord (you can secure your umbrella to your beach cart or cooler etc).  It's common to see how unsecured umbrellas can be as the wind launches them directly toward unknowing folks about to be impaled.  And, remember to open your umbrella into the wind otherwise, those gusts will be blowing your umbrella inside out making it almost impossible to control. 
~Know the time of your tides.  Always check with the lifeguard if unsure.  If the tide is at its highest, you can sit as close to the surf as you want as the tide will be taking the entire day to slip into low tide and the beach grows bigger and bigger.  It takes 6 hours for the tide to go from High to Low.
~Teach children beach etiquette.  Throwing sand is a no-no.  Teach them not to run or chase one another around someone laying on their blanket as the kicked up or thrown sand from the winds scatter over the person lying there peacefully.  I've had families whose little toddlers take off running from their campsite right to mine and onto my blanket before any adult could grab them.  I guess it's cute.  My advice to parents of young toddlers (1-2 year olds)... bring a "pack-n-play" for them as I can assure you that your day will be much more enjoyable with those babes confined.
~Remember when shaking out towels or blankets, be conscious of the wind direction and shake away from those in close proximity of your shaken sands.
~There is "no smoking" on the beach.  That includes pipes, vapes, cigars and marijuana.  Wildwood Crest has a designated smoking area for cigarette smoking.  There's "no smoking" of any kind on the boardwalk too.  As New Jersey has recently legalized Marijuana, you cannot smoke it in these small coastal towns as they've all outlawed it including Wildwood.  It's allowed on private property.
~Dogs are allowed on Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches from Oct-May.  Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at any time.  There are a couple of great beach dog-parks.  One at 3000 Glenwood Ave. at the beach and one in North Wildwood at 24th and the beach.  NW requires a permit and also posts that dogs are not allowed on the beach when lifeguards are present (9:30-5:30).  Dog's must be on a leash at all times when not in the dog parks.
~Never leave trash on the beach.  Better yet, pick up any you see whether it's yours or not.  There are many, many trash and recycle containers on the beach and sidewalks might as well use them. 
~If into music, remember your headphones.  Believe it or not, no one really wants to hear your blasting music drowning out the soothing sounds of the surf.  And, direct that (not too loud) speaker towards you, not to the other folks on the beach.
~Feeding seagulls is a big no-no.  Eat and snack smartly.  Using hands up or out when holding a sandwich to express oneself is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Drop just one potato chip and you'll create seagull havoc.  Eat under your umbrella or chair canopy.  Seagulls are vultures and are endlessly eyeing beach goers eating habits.  They're relentless in trying to find the opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  By the way, Seagulls know "chip bags" and if you have an unsupervised blanket or bag with chip bags exposed, they will help themselves to that bag and share their newly acquired beach find with their gull family and friends right there on your beach blanket and surrounding area.
~Playing ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, kite-flying, ladder toss, spike ball, paddle ball, volley ball, kan-jam, beach darts, etc., is a no-no where everyone's camped beaching.  The dune or emptier side of the beach is designated for those active beach games.  The beach patrol will probably stop you anyway. But, be mindful of those around you who are not in the game.
~Observe all posted warnings... beach closures, no alcohol or marijuana, rip currents, surfing only etc.  If in doubt, check with the lifeguards.  
~And lastly, be courteous.  Courtesy is key.  Be kind and considerate of everyone enjoying this beautiful moment along with you.  Happy Beaching!  

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Unsettled Weather On The Menu

Mornin'!  It's 73° in Wildwood NJ.  We've got some cloud cover this morning.  Current conditions are gray and humid (85% humidity/74° dewpoint) yet there are some breaks in the clouds on the back side of the island... west side along the marshes. Blue sky is peeking through as Ms Sun is trying to get through those clearings. Breezes are light out of the S-SW at 8-11mph.   So, we're about to have remnants of this Elsa Storm as she's been traveling up the Eastern seaboard and we'll begin feeling her effects later today and tonight into the overnight.  Expect partial cloudiness this morning with scattered showers and/or the possibility of thunderstorms this afternoon.  Today's temps will be in the low-mid 80s with humidity high (80s-90s) right into tomorrow afternoon when the humidity begins to drop.  The winds are going to pick up out of the S-SW at 15-25mph+gusting.  Tonight... tropical storm conditions possible with thunderstorms and heavy rainfall at times.  Temps will drop to where they are now... low-mid 70s with South winds at 15-25mph.  Tomorrow... starting out of the gate with cloud cover and rain showers then becoming partly sunny by the afternoon as Elsa moves quickly along her northern path up the coast.  Temps will be in the low-80s with SW winds still brisk at 15-25mph.  We could see a shower tomorrow night (40% chance).  As for the weekend... Saturday's sunnier and the better of the two days with Sunday being partly cloudy and a bit breezier.  Oh, don't forget about the New Moon tomorrow.  No one's mentioned the moon regarding Elsa's remnants heading this way.  But, if we do get heavy rainfall, it'll coincide with the moon's pull on the tides.  A "New Moon" has the same effect and pull on the tides as a "Full Moon" does (much higher than normal tides).  Know your "high tide" times so you're not caught in a precarious situation with those low-lying, notoriously flooded areas on the island and don't forget to keep your eyes on the sky today! 
High Tide: 7:24PM
Low Tide: 1:15PM
Ocean Temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:42AM
Sunset: 8:27PM
UV Index: 4
Rip Current: Moderate risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,024,748
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,490
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,310
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208 

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Beach "Hump" Day

Mornin'!  It's 78° in Wildwood NJ.  We're kicking off "hump day" with plenty of hazy sunshine yet not a cloud in the sky.  We've got that "tropical" feel again this morning with lots of humidity (83% and a dew point of 73°), light, warm, sea breezes out of the W-SW at 6-8mph. I just walked around my outdoor property to check the gardens and kept thinking to myself how warm it feels this early in the day. Since we Wildwoodians live on an Ant Hill, I have to keep a close check of the ants swarming my gardens most of the time and that includes both veggies, herbs and flowers.My daughter gave me a homemade solution recipe that keeps my ants in check:
3/4 C water (preferably boiled. it can be just hot water)
1/2 C sugar (dissolved in the water)
1 T borax laundry detergent (also dissolved in the mixture)
Place little bowls containing the cooled mixture around the floor of your gardens. The ants enjoy it more than eating all the leaves of your plants.  And, since they were inundating my gardens this year, I have to keep those little bowls filled with fresh doses of my homemade ant solution. 

Back to the weather... it'll be mostly sunny today with temps in the mid-upper 80s.  It'll be humid with stiff winds out of the S-SW at 15-20mph. (Pack a bungee or sand screw/anchor for that beach umbrella). Tonight... clear to partly cloudy, temps in the low-mid 70s and S-SW winds at 15-25mph.  Tomorrow... a mix of sun and clouds early becoming mostly cloudy.  Temps will be tapping 80° with 20% chance of rain showers by afternoon.  Friday... beginning and ending with rain showers and a partly cloudy day in between.  The weekend's looking okay with Saturday being the sunnier day.  Saturday: partly sunny, high of 80° and Sunday: mainly cloudy, upper 70s.  Both days seem unsettled though and eyes should be kept on the sky for any showers and/or thunderstorms passing through.  By the way, it's another big weekend here... it's the Anglesea (North Wildwood) BBQ-Blues Festival along with the Wildwood Jeep Invasion!  Both were cancelled last year due to COVID.   Oh... it's the New Moon on Friday so tides will be much higher and lower than normal.  If we do get any downpours around then, be cognizant of low-lying areas that may flood on the island. 
High tides: 6:39AM and 6:53PM
Low tide: 12:30PM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:41AM
Sunset: 8:27PM
UV index: 9
Rip Current: moderate risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,024,465
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,477
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,307
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Hazy, Hot and Humid Tuesday

Mornin'!  It's 71° in Wildwood NJ.  Ms "hazy" Sun is up and shining big and red-orange through the muddled sky.  The moment I saw the sun I thought... "Oh, it's going to be a hot one today."  Humidity's 91% with a Dew Point of 70°.  Breezes are out of the SW at 3-8mph.  It's a beauty outside this morning.  The island birds are all making their presence known, the breezes are warm, it has that tropical feel and then that aroma of the salty, briny sea is in the air completing the feast for the senses.  In my opinion, it couldn't get any better.  It'll be a warm, sunny, humid day with plenty of sunshine, temps in the mid-upper 80s and S-SW winds at 10-15mph.  Tonight... mostly clear, low around 74° and SW breezes at 15-20+mph.  Tomorrow... more plentiful sunshine, mid-upper 80s and Southerly breezes.  Thursday and Friday may be wet with 40% chance of rain both days.  Thinking of my favorite place in the world... Key West which has begun to get pummeled by Hurricane Elsa.  Keeping those folks in my thoughts and prayers! 
High tide: 5:50AM and 6:10PM
Low tide: 11:46AM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:40AM
Sunset: 8:28PM
UV Index: 9
Rip Current: Moderate risk (swim only near lifeguards)
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,024,311
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,477
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,304
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208
FOOTNOTE: I'm hearing and seeing that all reports are coming in that the Jersey Coast will probably get a thunderstorm or two beginning this early evening.  There's a 60% chance.  These coastal storms are here and there and sporadic but when checking the Doppler, it does look we'll probably be dealing with some winds, threatening clouds then rain, thunder and lightning possibly coming right over Wildwood so keep your eye on the sky!

Monday, July 5, 2021

Perfect Weather Down The Shore

Mornin'!  It's  71° in Wildwood NJ. Humidity's at 94% with a Dew Point of 67°.  Ms Sun's up and shining in the deep blue sky.  Breezes are light out of the S-SW at 2-5mph.  It's a beautiful start to the day and week.  It'll be a near perfect day with plenty of sunshine, temps just tapping 80°, much lower humidity (70%) and light breezes out of the South at 10-15mph.  Tonight... clear, temps in the low-mid 70s and S-SW winds at 10-13mph.  Tomorrow... a repeat of today with just slightly warmer temps (low-mid 80s).
High tide: 5:24AM
Low tide: 11:02AM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:40AM
Sunset: 8:28PM
UV Index: 9-10 (high)
Rip Current: Low Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,024,225
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,473
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,302
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Sunday, July 4, 2021

Independence Day

Mornin'!  Happy 4th of July! It's the 245th birthday of our Independence! And, it's going to be a lovely day for celebrating!  It's already a beautiful start to the day! It's 67° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's at 89% with a dew point of 65°.  Breezes are light out of the W-NW at 3-5mph.  There are clouds surrounding us with blue skies everywhere in between.  At the moment, Ms Sun's covered by them and the island's looking gray and ominous.  Things are going to change though  as plentiful sunshine is due in today.  Temps will be in the mid-upper 70s with low humidity and SW breezes at 5-10mph.  Tonight... mostly clear, upper 60s and South winds at 5-10mph.  Tomorrow... just about the same exact weather as today... mostly clear and sunny with temps tapping 80° and SE winds at 10-15mph.
High tide: 4:35PM
Low tide: 10:17AM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:39AM
Sunset: 8:28PM
UV Index: 8
Rip Current: Low Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,024,113
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,473
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,302
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208
Fun Fact: On this date in 1826 (50th Anniversary of our Independence), John Adams (91yo) and Thomas Jefferson (83yo) our 2nd and 3rd Presidents respectively, died within hours of each other.   
 

Saturday, July 3, 2021

Unsettled Saturday

Today's Web Cam Shot - North Wildwood
Mornin'!  It's 64° in Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 91% with a Dew Point of 64°. Breezes are nice out of the NW at 5-8mph.  Ms Sun's up and at the moment doing everything she can to break through some thick cloud cover.  Even with that humidity, it's feeling rather cool and refreshing outside this morning. The only reason I have my air conditioner on is due to the thickly inhabited island.  We're bursting at the seams as every home and parking space is filled to capacity this morning.  Keeping myself somewhat quietly insulated in my space truly helps with the jammed packed, loud, insanity surrounding me.  I'm doing my best to adjust. As for today's unsettled weather... these clouds intend on staying checked in today as it'll be partly cloudy early followed by scattered thunderstorms this afternoon.  Temps will be in the mid-70s.  NW winds are staying checked in too at 10-15mph.  The chance of scattered rain showers and/or thunderstorms today is 50%.  Tonight... partly cloudy, low around 63° and N-NW winds at 5-10mph.  There's a 25% chance of rain tonight.  Tomorrow... mostly sunny, temps tapping 80° and S-SW winds at 5-10mph.  
High tide: 3:45PM
Low tide: 9:30AM
Ocean temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:39AM
Sunset: 8:28PM
UV Index: 7
Rip Current: Moderate Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,023,923
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,468
Corona Virus Cases in CMC: 9,297
Corona Virus Deaths in CMC: 208

Friday, July 2, 2021

First Friday In July!

Mornin'!  Happy Friday!  It's 69° in wet Wildwood NJ.  Humidity's 97% with a dew point of 70°.  It's raining lightly with barely a breeze out of the West at 4-7mph.  We had those ol' thunder boomers and plenty of heavy rainfall last night and overnight and the island's as watered as it can be.  The outdoor plants and shrubbery couldn't look happier!  It looks like we may be heading into a gray, rainy day.  All forecasts are saying rain this morning (100% chance) with scattered rain showers (including thunderstorms) on schedule for this afternoon (40% chance).  Temps will be in the mid-upper 70s with W-SW winds at 5-10mph.  Tonight... partly to mostly cloudy conditions with scattered thunderstorms (40% chance) with temps dropping to the mid-60s with W-NW winds at 5-10mph.  Tomorrow... starting out with partly cloudy conditions in the morning and increasing clouds throughout the day as there's a 50% chance of rain beginning by the afternoon.  Temps will be in the mid-70s with NW winds at 10-15mph.  Sunday... mostly sunny day with temps in the mid-upper 70s and very light variable breezes (meaning they're switching from every direction throughout the entire day).  Monday... a perfect day blue sky kind of day with abundant sunshine and temps in the upper 70s / low 80s.  And, since it's Friday, those Friday Beach Tips are on the Blog for all to enjoy! 
High Tide: 2:56PM
Low Tide: 8:40AM
Ocean Temp: 73°
Sunrise: 5:39AM
Sunset: 8:28PM
UV Index: 5
Rip Current: Moderate Risk
Corona Virus Cases in NJ: 1,023,613
Corona Virus Deaths in NJ: 26,463
Corona Virus Cases in Cape May County: 9,293
Corona Virus Deaths in Cape May County: 208

Friday's Beach Tips and Beach Etiquette:
~Things I pack for the beach... bottled water, a spray bottle of water for you never know what, a hat, footwear (it's amazing how many folk don't wear something on their feet when trekking the extremely hot, burning sand and even worse forget to put footwear on their children), towel, sunblock, insect repellent (for the West Wind Biting Flies), first aid kit (I include a tiny bottle of vinegar for jelly fish stings), some shade (umbrella or sand chair with lid/canopy), something to read, sanitizing wipes, a small trash bag to collect any trash you may accumulate, and I always bring my crocheting as I love to crochet on the beach.  Some of my best baby blankets are "salty". 
~When going to the beach and deciding where to set camp, kindly give those around you a little extra space as courtesy is key.  Careful not to plop down only inches from someone else's camp.  This one's amazing to me as I see "close proximity plopping" time and time again.  Most beaches (with the exception of North Wildwood) are huge yet folks set up camp only inches from those already there enjoying their quiet beach day.  The fact is, their encampment could have been literally 30 feet away allowing plenty of room between others blankets, chairs and umbrellas, yet it's only inches away!  It happens more often than not.  I have yet to figure it out.  Human connection needed perhaps?  Whatever, it's a very strange phenomenon.
~Setting up your umbrella... be aware of wind direction and wind speed.  If it's windy, take those extra steps to secure your umbrella (sand screws or grabbers) or bungee cord (you can secure your umbrella to your beach cart or cooler etc).  It's common to see how unsecured umbrellas can be as the wind launches them directly toward unknowing folks about to be impaled.  And, remember to open your umbrella into the wind otherwise, those gusts will be blowing your umbrella inside out making it almost impossible to control. 
~Know the time of your tides.  Always check with the lifeguard if unsure.  If the tide is at its highest, you can sit as close to the surf as you want as the tide will be taking the entire day to slip into low tide and the beach grows bigger and bigger.  It takes 6 hours for the tide to go from High to Low.
~Teach children beach etiquette.  Throwing sand is a no-no.  Teach them not to run or chase one another around someone laying on their blanket as the kicked up or thrown sand from the winds scatter over the person lying there peacefully.  I've had families whose little toddlers take off running from their campsite right to mine and onto my blanket before any adult could grab them.  I guess it's cute.  My advice to parents of young toddlers (1-2 year olds)... bring a "pack-n-play" for them as I can assure you that your day will be much more enjoyable with those babes confined.
~Remember when shaking out towels or blankets, be conscious of the wind direction and shake away from those in close proximity of your shaken sands.
~There is "no smoking" on the beach.  That includes pipes, vapes, cigars and marijuana.  Wildwood Crest has a designated smoking area for cigarette smoking.  There's "no smoking" of any kind on the boardwalk too.  As New Jersey has recently legalized Marijuana, you cannot smoke it in these small coastal towns as they've all outlawed it including Wildwood.  It's allowed on private property.
~Dogs are allowed on Wildwood and Wildwood Crest beaches from Oct-May.  Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at any time.  There are a couple of great beach dog-parks.  One at 3000 Glenwood Ave. at the beach and one in North Wildwood at 24th and the beach.  NW requires a permit and also posts that dogs are not allowed on the beach when lifeguards are present (9:30-5:30).  Dog's must be on a leash at all times when not in the dog parks.
~Never leave trash on the beach.  Better yet, pick up any you see whether it's yours or not.  There are many, many trash and recycle containers on the beach and sidewalks might as well use them. 
~If into music, remember your headphones.  Believe it or not, no one really wants to hear your blasting music drowning out the soothing sounds of the surf.  And, direct that (not too loud) speaker towards you, not to the other folks on the beach.
~Feeding seagulls is a big no-no.  Eat and snack smartly.  Using hands up or out when holding a sandwich to express oneself is a magnet for swooping gulls.  Drop just one potato chip and you'll create seagull havoc.  Eat under your umbrella or chair canopy.  Seagulls are vultures and are endlessly eyeing beach goers eating habits.  They're relentless in trying to find the opportune moment to swoop down and pluck your lunch right out of your hand or mouth (seen it happen many times).  By the way, Seagulls know "chip bags" and if you have an unsupervised blanket or bag with chip bags exposed, they will help themselves to that bag and share their newly acquired beach find with their gull family and friends right there on your beach blanket and surrounding area.
~Playing ball, Frisbee, horseshoes, corn hole, kite-flying, ladder toss, spike ball, paddle ball, volley ball, kan-jam, beach darts, etc., is a no-no where everyone's camped beaching.  The dune or emptier side of the beach is designated for those active beach games.  The beach patrol will probably stop you anyway. But, be mindful of those around you who are not in the game.
~Observe all posted warnings... beach closures, no alcohol or marijuana, rip currents, surfing only etc.  If in doubt, check with the lifeguards.  
~And lastly, be courteous.  Courtesy is key.  Be kind and considerate of everyone enjoying this beautiful moment along with you.  Happy Beaching!