Nor’easter strips Rockaway beaches down to cliffs, sands dumped at Breezy Point

What happened

A powerful nor'easter over the weekend eroded large sections of the Rockaway coastline in Queens. At Jacob Riis Park and nearby Beach 149th, waves stripped away multiple feet of beach, leaving abrupt drop-offs and spirals of darker sand that trace the tide's movement.

Where the sand went

Visible damage on site

• A dune pile was turned into a 14-foot-tall sand cliff near the Beach 149th jetty. A reporter measured that cliff.
• Sand residue on boardwalk railings showed waves reached as high as 26 inches during peak conditions.
• Wooden jetties that were previously buried have been unearthed by the storm.

Who manages the shoreline

Different shore sections fall under different authorities: Jacob Riis Park is overseen by the National Park Service, residential shorelines are managed by the city and the US Army Corps of Engineers. That split responsibility has complicated long-running resident concerns about wooden jetties and erosion control.

City Councilwoman Joann Ariola called the erosion a "tremendous cause for concern" and urged Emergency Management and the Army Corps to inspect the damage immediately. She emphasized work must begin now to avoid leaving residents vulnerable during the remainder of storm season and to protect the next summer season.

Response and next steps

Engineers told reporters it is currently assessing conditions to put together a plan. Officials have not released estimates on the volume of sand lost or the cost to replenish these sections of beach. For context, a 2013 Corps project to restore sand after Superstorm Sandy cost $26.4 million to replace roughly 3.5 million cubic yards of sand.

What to watch next

• Corps assessment outcomes and any published timetable for sand replenishment.
• Coordination between the National Park Service, city agencies and the Corps on short- and long-term shoreline protections.
• Local reporting on erosion at other nearby beaches and any further movement of sand downshore to Breezy Point.

Bottom line

The nor'easter dramatically reshaped parts of the Rockaways, exposing jetties and creating steep sand cliffs that limit beach access and raise safety concerns. Officials are assessing damage and discussing replenishment, but residents want immediate action to protect homes and the 2027 summer season.