Ocean Gate, Point Pleasant Beach Among NJ Towns That Could Be Underwater By 2100

Will New Jersey be underwater soon?

That's the question that a lot of climate scientists are asking when analyzing new data, and I know the whole conversation about climate change can spark intense feelings and very heated debates. I'm not here to say one side is right or another is wrong, but I do always find it interesting to take a look at what scientists are saying, since they're a heck of a lot smarter than I am.

New Data Reveals Large Portions Of NJ Could Be Underwater By 2100

According to new data, large portions of New Jersey could see significant changes in water levels, causing significant flooding in coastal areas. It's not just on the island; places like Ocean Gate, Island Heights, Port Republic, and Point Pleasant could see significant sea level rise if things carry on at their current rate.

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Now, I'm a look-on-the-bright-side kind of guy; where I'm at in Ocean Gate would become waterfront property if sea levels continue rising at their current rate. I'm not saying that's a good thing, but it does save me a 5-block walk down to the beach.

Within The Next 25 Years, Rising Tides Could Affect Roads And Bridges

According to NJ.com, within the next 25 years, we could see certain roads, bridges, and stretches of the shore become unusable twice a day because of the tides being higher than they were even just a few years ago.

How Much Sea Level Rise Could NJ See By 2100?

NOAA reports that by the year 2100 we could see 2.5 feet of sea level rise on the low end, and up to 7 feet on the high end. Even that 2.5-foot rise would cause serious problems for the Jersey Shore.

There's apparently a lot happening behind the scenes to try to prevent the water levels from rising to a point where it would cause serious damage. From infrastructure plans to beach replenishment, there's a lot happening to keep the Jersey Shore above water.