As Summer Approaches, New Jersey’s Shore Towns Confront an Unrelenting Foe: Sea Level Rise

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. —The briny bay waters flood the parking lot and beer garden at the Vagabond Kitchen & Taphouse—and not just when it rains. Across town, the water gushes up the sidewalk at the El Rinconcito grocery, sometimes leaving manager Jeraldo Diaz with no choice but to close for the day.

Even on sunny days, the water is suddenly there, like a quiet invader, especially when the moon is full and the tide is high.

Scientists say that such flooding, which is known as sunny day flooding or nuisance flooding, is a harbinger of the future. New Jersey’s sea level is rising at about twice the global average, and studies predict that the lowest-lying shore points, including this seaside city known for its beachfront casinos, will experience flooding at an ever-growing rate in the coming