How did water temperatures at the Jersey Shore go from the 70s to
the 50s over the weekend?
According to a graph showing the water temperature in Atlantic
City from a NOAA reporting station, on Saturday, it dropped from 70 degrees to
57 degrees, and has not recovered all week.
There is a process behind this known as upwelling. When warm water
at the surface is replaced by cold water underneath, it can take days for the
ocean to recover to the more comfortable levels.
This time of year, on average, the ocean is around 70 degrees.
Experts warn jumping into a 58-degree ocean when the air is 90 degrees can have
significant health impacts and risks.