Crowds Return as Temperatures Climb to 90s

The parking lot was already packed at Mud City Crabhouse today around 1 p.m., indicating what likely lies ahead this weekend.

"We decided to come for lunch before the crowds later," said one customer to Mud City hostess Kelly Jelinski. 

Jelinski said that even though last Saturday was a wash out, the remainder of Memorial Day was "really busy," and she said, she's expecting it to be even more so this weekend, as temperatures climb into the 90s.

With heat advisories issued in portions of the Jersey Shore, early Friday afternoon brought crowds including along Long Beach Island.

Gail Wetmore, Barnegat Light's town administrator, said despite a soggy start to Memorial Day weekend, early beach badge sales were strong, totalling about $23,000 just over last weekend.

"I think we're going to be very busy this year," Wetmore told Patch. "Barnegat Light is so fortunate in that we didn't have any real damage to our beaches,  so I think people will come, and we're very happy to have them."