Beach water - up to ankles — Beach Water - Up to ankles

WILDWOOD, NJ — As Hurricane Erin continues to stir up dangerous surf along the East Coast, beachgoers in Wildwood are being told to keep their feet wet — but nothing more. Local officials announced Thursday that the beach remains open, but entering the water is limited to ankle-deep only due to severe rip current threats.

The Wildwood Crest Police Department posted the update just after noon, warning residents and visitors that while sunbathing and walking the shoreline are permitted, all swimming and deeper water activity are off-limits until further notice. There will also be no transport service available on the beach.

“Bathing is restricted to ankle deep water only,” the department stated in a public notice shared on Facebook and X. “There is no transport service. Stay safe!”

Hurricane erin brings ankle-deep water rule to wildwood beaches as storm churns offshore — Photo: hurricane erin brings ankle-deep water rule to wildwood beaches as storm churns offshore

Though Hurricane Erin is tracking well offshore, its effects are being felt along the Jersey Shore with strong waves, high tides, and unpredictable surf. No injuries or rescues have been reported in Wildwood so far.

The National Weather Service has placed the entire Cape May County coastline under a high surf advisory and warned of life-threatening rip currents through the weekend.

Lifeguards remain on duty and patrols are expected to increase as crowds continue to gather near the ocean despite the warnings.

Key Points

Wildwood beaches remain open but water access is limited to ankle-deep only
Hurricane Erin is offshore but creating dangerous surf and rip current conditions
No beach transport service is available as a precautionary safety measure

Beachgoers can still soak up the sun in Wildwood, but Hurricane Erin means don’t even think about diving in.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.