'Full of wind, snow and water worse than Sandy': New Jersey battles tides higher than the historic superstorm as the state is hit by severe flooding from Jonas

After overcoming horrific flooding due to Hurricane Sandy, New Jersey battled even more Saturday as winter storm Jonas battered the East coast with 'life-threatening' blizzard conditions.

Thousands who live in the coastal communities in New Jersey and Delaware are being affected by tides higher than when Hurricane Sandy occurred thanks to the blizzard. 

National Weather Service meteorologist Patrick O'Hara said tides higher than those caused by the horrific storm three years ago pushed water on to roads along the Jersey Shore and Delaware coast and set records in Cape May, New Jersey, and Lewes, Delaware.

For coastal communities in New York and New Jersey, the powerful snowstorm brought with it widespread flooding - an added danger beyond freezing temperatures, power outages and slippery roads. 

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Tragic: The flood water on 96th Street and Third Avenue in Stone Harbor, New Jersey is pictured above Saturday night during the winter storm Jonas

A car is stranded on Third Avenue in Stone Harbor, New Jersey Saturday night after the major snowstorm hit the East Coast during the weekend

The Stone Harbor Fire and Rescue bring Phil Lazenby, from Stone Harbor, to the Reeds Hotel after evacuating him from his home Saturday night. The storm left many in Cape May and Atlantic Counties in New Jersey without power

Jim Hand, owner of Fred's Tavern and Liquor Store, lets water out of his store after it flooded during the blizzard January 23, 2016 in Stone Harbor, New Jersey

Coastal flooding was reported in New Jersey as 100,000 homes were left without power earlier in the day on Saturday and New Jersey Transit had to be temporarily shut down.

According to WCBS, officials said that Saturday night and Sunday morning's tidal flooding isn't expected to be as severe as Saturday morning's.

'So it's a lower high tide than what we had before and we don't think and nor do the mayors down there think that there is any need for mandatory evacuation,' Governor Chris Christie told WCBS.

The storm's arrival coincides with a full moon, meaning strong winds will combine with a high tide to cause significant flooding. 

The flood warning came as many communities are still struggling to recover from the massive devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy three years ago.

Although officials have said they were nevertheless prepared for anything – and have said the storm is expected to be one of the worst to ever hit the region.

A North Wildwood firefighter helps local resident Joe Tolomeo from his flooded home on 12th Avenue in North Wildwood, New Jersey on Saturday

Water floods New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood, New Jersey at the height of a storm on Saturday. The winter storm created near record high tides along the Jersey Shore, surpassing the tide of Hurricane Sandy officials said

Water with chuncks of ice floating in it floods closed businesses on New Jersey Avenue near 12th Ave in North Wildwood, New Jersey on Saturday

A floating dock sits on the sidewalk following flooding during a blizzard January 23, 2016 in Stone Harbor, New Jersey

Firefighters at the Beach Haven Volunteer Fire Company house had about a foot of water inside around 9pm on Saturday, NJ.com reported. 

Located at South Bay Avenue, the water filled the fire house after they opened the main door.  

'It's not Sandy high yet, but it's definitely up,' Chief Matt Letts said of the flooding on Beach Haven, which is on the southern end of Long Beach Island.

Under the weight of heavy snow, the roof of the downtown Westfield Trader Joe's collapsed Saturday, authorities said.  

Around 2pm, most of the roof at the store fell in, causing the front and side walls of the structure to buckle, fire Chief David J. Kelly told NJ.com

About an hour after high tide in Sea Isle City, cold water quickly covered the streets around 8.45pm, WCBS reported.

Mayor Len Desiderio spent the day worrying about his residents and called the 'storm full of wind, snow and water worse than Sandy,' WCBS reported.

'I think it's worse than Sandy because of the weather,' he told the television station. 'It's cold, it's snowy, it's raining.'

New York and New Jersey had been warned that rising tides would cause widespread flooding. Above a group of homes off of Route 10 in Cape May, New Jersey are flooded

New Jersey experienced coastal flooding, including along Beach Avenue in Cape May, New Jersey

The flood warning comes as many communities are still struggling to recover from the massive devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy three years ago. Pictured, water covers Third Avenue in Stone Harbor, New Jersey

'There's a small portion of the roof in the rear of the building that did not collapse, but a significant part of the roof collapsed,' he said.

Luckily, the store was closed due to the storm, and no one was injured, Kelly said.

The beach resort town of Seaside Heights in New Jersey currently has a population of about 1,000, a far cry from the 3,000 year-round residents it had before Sandy, according to borough administrator Christopher Vaz. Many residents are still unable to return to homes destroyed by the floodwater.

Vaz said officials encouraged elderly and sick residents to consider leaving low-lying areas. The flooding is 'absolutely' more of a concern than the snow, Vaz said.

'We can handle six or 12 inches of snow,' he said.

Water surrounds a house on Stone Harbor Boulevard in Middle Township, New Jersey during a blizzard on Saturday

Despite low tide, a number of streets remained flooded during a blizzard in North Wildwood, New Jersey on Saturday

The awning of a Knights of Columbus building lays on the ground during a blizzard in Stone Harbor, New Jersey

Coastal flooding from a winter snowstorm inundates houses along New York Avenue, in North Wildwood, New Jersey

The powerful storm brought with it widespread flooding - an added danger beyond freezing temperatures, power outages and slippery roads

In Ocean City, just south of Atlantic City, crews used bulldozers to block beach access points with sand in an effort to slow down any storm surge.

A number of vehicles, including re-purposed military trucks, were available in case evacuations are needed.

Frank Donato, who heads the Ocean City's emergency management office, said the latest forecasts were calling for as much as an eight-foot tide on Saturday night.

'This is pretty typical for a strong nor'easter,' Donato said.

Officials said the years since Sandy had seen infrastructure improvements and hundreds of homes elevated above flood levels, though much of the work remains unfinished.

'Not everyone is raised,' said Paul Daley, the emergency management coordinator for the New Jersey shore community Toms River. 'Some are still destroyed. Some are still in the design phase.'

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie urged people to find shelter and remain indoors. Pictured, flooding in North Wildwood, New Jersey

Officials said the years since Sandy had seen infrastructure improvements and hundreds of homes elevated above flood levels, though much of the work remains unfinished

'Not everyone is raised,' said Paul Daley, the emergency management coordinator for the New Jersey shore community Toms River. 'Some are still destroyed. Some are still in the design phase'

The storm's arrival coincided with a full moon, meaning strong winds combined with a high tide caused significant flooding. Pictured, waves crash on the beach in Cape May, New Jersey on Saturday

Flooding hit Beach Avenue in Cape May, New Jersey as as tidal storm surges compounded the misery caused by storm Jonas

New Jersey residents were warned that rising tides will cause flooding and make winter storm Jonas even worse. Pictured, flooding along New York Avenue in North Wildwood, New Jersey

Daley said crews have been out for days shoring up dunes on the beach using bulldozers.

'We're expecting the worst and hoping for the best,' Daley said.

On Saturday morning, New Jersey governor Chris Christie urged residents to stay off the roads and remain indoors during the storm.

In an update later in the morning, he confirmed that significant flooding had been reported in the state.

He said there were about 90,000 power outages at that time. Governor Christie urged people to shelter in the home of a friend or family member – or to go to an emergency shelter if they have nowhere nearby to go.

'Don't stay in the cold,' he said. 'We have shelters open in every county in the state. They will keep you warm, get you fed.'

A van drives through a flooded street as ice and snow prevent drainage in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Most of the state was facing a blizzard warning from Friday evening until Sunday

The flood warning comes as many communities are still struggling to recover from the massive devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy

Ice surrounds water pools close to the dunes in Cape May, New Jersey. More than 90,000 homes were without power across the state Saturday

New Jersey Govenor Chris Christie listens to a briefing on a snowstorm during a visit to the New Jersey Department of Transportation Traffic Management and Technology Center on Saturday

He said people should call their local police department if they have trouble getting to a shelter.

'This is my 17th snow emergency in six years,' he added. 'We know how to do this.'

The looming storm prompted Christie, who had initially said he would continue to campaign in New Hampshire for the Republican presidential nomination, to reverse course and head back to his state on Friday evening.

Christie made headlines in 2012 when he toured communities devastated by Sandy with President Barack Obama.

While he drew praise for his response from many state residents, he also endured criticism from conservatives when he commended Obama's response, just days before the Democratic president was re-elected for a second term.

And speaking to CNN Saturday morning, Governor Christie, who continued to travel around the state throughout the day, said: 'We are ready to get the National Guard out for evacuations if necessary and we have shelters in every county in the state.

The winter storm mixed with high tide caused flooding in a group of homes off of Route 10 on January 23 in Cape May, New Jersey

A woman tries to help her friend free her stuck car early on Saturday morning in Ventnor, New Jersey

'People should stay inside, not only is the weather incredibly nasty but it is helping us keep roads passable. We have two to three inches falling an hour. Please stay inside, please don't drive today.'

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service said the winter storm could rank near the top 10 to ever hit the region. They issued a blizzard warning for all of New York City until 7am on Sunday.

'It does have the potential to be an extremely dangerous storm that can affect more than 50 million people,' said Louis Uccellini, director of the weather service, adding that it could easily cause more than $1billion in damage.

A state of emergency has been declared in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York and parts of other states.

Blizzard warnings or watches were in effect along the storm's path, from Arkansas through Tennessee and Kentucky to the mid-Atlantic states and as far north as New York.

The National Weather Service said the winter storm could rank near the top 10 to ever hit the region. Pictured, a police officer blocks a street near flooding during a storm in Atlantic City

A police cruiser drives through a flooded street early on Saturday morning in Atlantic City, New Jersey

Danny Stalworth holds onto his hood during fierce winds as he tries to clear his sidewalk early on Saturday in Atlantic City, New Jersey

A motorist shovels snow to free up a vehicle on the New Jersey Turnpike during the snowstorm in Port Reading, New Jersey on Saturday

A major snowstorm is upon the East Coast this weekend with some areas expected to receive over a foot of snow. Pictured, waves pound the beach in Cape May