By Jeff Goldman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

A coastal flood warning has been issued starting Thursday afternoon for much of the Jersey Shore as a stalled weather system off the coast continues to batter beaches with gusty winds and mounting high tides, prompting concerns over significant beach erosion.

The National Weather Service describes the storm as a “long duration coastal flood event” with flood watches upgrading to warnings as of 4 p.m. Thursday and lasting until 1 a.m. Saturday for Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Ocean counties. Flooding is expected to hit the moderate stage at the high tides Thursday night and Friday in Jersey Shore towns in those counties.

Minor flooding is expected along bays and beaches in Monmouth, Middlesex and Salem counties, as well as along the Delaware River. Those areas remain under a coastal flood watch.

Significant beach erosion is expected along the Shore “due to the prolonged nature of the event,” the weather service said.

The flooding is being driven by multiple days of strong on-shore winds with gusts up to 40 mph.

“This event affects 5 consecutive high tide cycles dating back to Wednesday evening,” the National Weather Service said in its latest storm briefing Thursday morning. “Water will not be allowed to drain from many of the back bays and estuaries. As a result, the cumulative impacts may be significant.”

The low-pressure system in the Atlantic Ocean isn’t bringing much rain to New Jersey, though.

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