Ice causing damage and disrupting life at the Jersey Shore

Beaches at the Jersey Shore began to have its ice and snow melt during this week’s brief reprieve from the freezing cold temperatures, making the sand walkable again.

“This weather is fantastic,” said Christopher Ketels, of North Cape May. “It’s the first time that I’ve really been able to get out properly and walk my dog. It was just a sheet of snow and ice.”

Elsewhere at the Jersey Shore on Wednesday, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry brought passengers across the Delaware Bay for the first time in three days.

The ferry’s crew said they had not dealt with so much ice in eight years.

“Ice generally makes ship handling harder,” said Capt. Stephen Bowen. “It’s really hard on the boats and boats don’t like to turn.”

The salty water of Delaware Bay freezes at about 28 degrees. On Wednesday, it was up to 32 degrees, but another temperature plunge is on the horizon.

“It looks like it’s going to freeze again,” Bowen said. “Later in the week temperatures do drop down. We might miss some morning departures.”

At Keansburg Fishing Pier, officials said the recent build-up of ice and shifting currents in Raritan Bay caused part of the pier to collapse this week.

The pier had previously been rebuilt following Hurricane Sandy.

“Definitely history that’s been destroyed. It’s going to hurt a little bit, but the town will bring her back,” one person said.

Back on the Jersey Shore’s beaches, people got the once-in-a-lifetime chance to skate on the ice at Wildwood’s beach, but the above-freezing temperatures have now melted away that opportunity.

However, with temperatures set to dip again, the rink could return.