SOUTHAMPTON, NY — In light of this week's storm and the impending severe weather expected for the weekend, Town of Southampton commissioners have extended the temporary closure of all Southampton beaches to beach driving until Monday at 8 a.m.
The measure was taken in anticipation of another storm, erosion and cleanup measures, administrators said.
Beaches were battered by strong winds, rain and flooding Tuesday night. Lynn Joyce told Path there was “tremendous” erosion of the dunes on Dune Road in Quogue. “Our steps are all that's left, as of now,” he said. Others saw their steps and sand fencing gone, he added.
“We've been hit really hard again by this storm,” said Ryan Murphy, Southampton Town's manager of public safety and emergency management.
“Unfortunately, we've had some significant storm damage due to frequent storms occurring at a rate that doesn't allow the beach to naturally regenerate in any way,” he said.
According to Murphy's observation, Tuesday night's storm appeared to be somewhat of a mix of the December 2022 and December 2023 storms. south coast that was similar to the December 23, 2022 storm, in my estimation,” he said.
The storm, he said, “once again significantly eroded the dune area on the west side of Shinnecock Inlet near the commercial dock.
“The county has been trying to fortify this area since the December storm, and it appears that much of that work — along with all the dredging that went on before that — was quickly undone by this storm system and the 15- to 20 feet on the beach.”
Dune Road, he said, also experienced significant flooding, and there are also indicators of several overflow points, where the ocean overtopped the dune structure.
“The storm packed a big punch,” he said.
