WILDWOOD, NJ — Walls of water rolled over parts of Wildwood’s shoreline Wednesday as Hurricane Erin’s outer bands battered the Jersey Shore, triggering widespread flooding, closing roads, and raising serious concerns about damage to coastal infrastructure.

The wide beaches were covered with seawater, turning the massive flat beaches into what looked like a lake yesterday.

The storm, still offshore but creeping closer, has already pushed surf heights to 8 feet Wednesday with waves expected to reach 12 feet by Thursday evening. A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect through 2 a.m. Saturday for Atlantic Coastal Cape May, with the most dangerous conditions expected around Thursday night’s high tide.

As water levels surged more than a foot above ground in low-lying areas, multiple streets

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