By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
The frigid weather this weekend promises to be too nasty for even the hardiest of “polar bears.”
Sea Isle City’s Polar Bear Plunge has been officially canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but local officials remain worried that some people will still venture into the ocean Saturday for a traditional chilly dip.
Freezing temperatures, rough surf and a strong undertow will make for some treacherous conditions Saturday, so everyone is strongly advised to stay out of the water, Police Chief Tom McQuillen said.
“It’s really dangerous and we want to warn people to avoid it at all cost,” McQuillen said.
Although the official plunge is off, there are postings on social media that indicate some revelers are still planning to jump in to carry on the annual madcap celebration.
During the official plunges, which annually attract thousands of costumed participants and spectators each Presidents Day weekend, lifeguards watch over the crowds, ready to respond to any emergencies.
Lifeguards, though, will not be patrolling the shoreline Saturday to protect anyone who has the nerve to charge into the choppy ocean and risk being caught in the undertow.
“It’s a concern, because guards will not be there to watch these people and keep them out of the rip currents,” Sea Isle Beach Patrol Chief Renny Steele said.
Steele explained that a series of coastal storms in February have “chewed up” the ocean bottom and created underwater channels conducive for rip currents.
McQuillen also warned that Sea Isle’s beach replenishment project last summer may have changed the topography of the ocean floor and created “hidden dangers,” including the possibility of sudden drop-offs right offshore.
Both Steele and McQuillen stressed that people should stay out of the water altogether.
“Please, let’s wait until another year,” McQuillen said of when conditions are safer for the Polar Bear Plunge.
Adding to the risks are frigid water temperatures in the low 40s and strong winds blowing from 25 mph to 35 mph, Steele noted. Freezing rain is also in the forecast for the weekend.
During the years that it is held, the plunge serves as the centerpiece of Sea Isle’s Polar Bear Plunge Weekend of partying, dining and shopping. The mega-celebration awakens the shore town from its winter hibernation and reinvigorates the local economy.
Sea Isle traditionally attracts tens of thousands of people to town over the Presidents Day weekend for the Polar Bear festivities.
COVID-19 restrictions put in place by Gov. Phil Murphy to slow the spread of the virus made it impossible to hold the plunge this year. Currently, general outdoor gatherings are limited to a maximum of 25 people, according to New Jersey’s coronavirus-related crowd restrictions.
In the meantime, some of Sea Isle’s other events usually connected with the plunge are being held virtually.
Mike Monichetti, a local restaurant owner and organizer of the Mike’s Seafood Polar Bear Walk and Run for Autism, announced in November that he would have a virtual event instead.
Held the past 12 years during Polar Bear Plunge Weekend, the walk-run attracts thousands of participants and is a major fundraiser benefiting autism support groups, special services schools and families of special needs children. In 2019, the event grossed a record $202,000 for autism causes, Monichetti said.
To add some excitement to the virtual autism awareness event, people may go on the fundraising webpage to view a polar bear mascot’s travels “Around the World in 80 Days.”
To donate, go to https://givebutter.com/polarbearrunwalk2021?fbclid=IwAR1-n9TNNV_85Jcm3-hQVtyFIn92-E_IybQSEzrZVIaB0fud79bpaJhvZDQ
Despite the plunge and autism fundraiser being canceled, many of Sea Isle’s restaurants, bars and retail shops will be open and offering special deals for Presidents Day weekend, the city announced.
The Presidents Day celebration, along with Valentine’s Day falling on Sunday, allows the town to capitalize on the extended holiday weekend.
“With Presidents Weekend just hours away, I want to remind everyone that even though there will not be a plunge in the ocean on Saturday, we are still expecting a large number of people to be in town over the next several days,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio said in a statement posted on the city’s website.
Desiderio urged everyone to continue practicing social distancing, wearing a mask and observing other safety protocols amid the coronavirus crisis. He said now “is not the time to let down our guards when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
