Forecasters said strong winds, pounding waves and rain could cause the worst flooding along the New Jersey shore in years. A coastal flooding warning and high surf advisory are in effect from Sandy Hook to Cape May until 11 p.m. Friday. Winds of 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph are possible through tonight. Forecasters said strong onshore winds will not allow the water to drain from back bays. The National Weather Service said widespread minor tidal flooding is expected along most of the coast today. Widespread moderate flooding is possible into Friday.

Forecasters said tidal flooding into Friday may be the worst since April 2007 in Monmouth County, March 1996 in Ocean and Atlantic counties and March 1994 in Cumberland and Cape May counties.

The high tide at Sandy Hook, expected at 3:50 p.m., could reach heights of 7 to 7 1/2 feet, Patrick O’Hara, meteorologist with the National Weather Service, said

O’Hara said expect rain, excessive tides, beach erosion and battering winds as you head to the shore areas through Saturday. He said shore areas could get one to two inches of rain.

“This storm really isn’t moving anywhere,” O’Hara said. “This is just the beginning.”

The downpour marks the track of the remnants of tropical storm Ida, which blew ashore in Alabama from the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday. Ida lost its tropical storm strength shortly after coming on land but has drenched a swath from Alabama through Georgia as it meandered toward the Atlantic.

Gale, high wind and storm watches and warnings were in effect from North Carolina to New Jersey. AP