UPDATE: Flooding in Silverton, East Dover Reported

Township Office of Emergency Management officials are warning Thursday morning that low-lying areas in Toms River including Silverton and East Dover are experiencing "major" flooding. 

"Do not drive through flooded streets. Use caution," reads an emergency statement sent through the Nixle text message alert system by emergency officials. 

Toms River Chief of Police Michael Mastronardy said that authorities have seen flooding on Riviera Drive in Silverton and 2nd Avenue on the barrier island and will keep watch as high tide arrived at 11:14 a.m.

"We continue to monitor it right now," he said.

Earlier: A portion of Route 166 in Toms River flooded Thursday morning, forcing authorities to close all lanes of the highway and put detours in place.

According to the traffic service 511NJ.org at about 9:30 a.m., "there's Flooding on NJ 166 in both directions North of CR 530/CR 527/CR 549 in Toms River Twp. All lanes closed and detoured."

Heavy rains fell for much of Wednesday into early Thursday morning as winds swirled, leading authorities to prepare for flooding. A wind gust of 74 mph was recorded by the National Weather Service at 9:25 p.m. Wednesday in Brick.

By 9 p.m. Wednesday night, Jersey Central Power & Light reported 2,077 customers out of power in Toms River. The utility's Thursday morning estimate shows that power has been restored to most, with 35 customers remaining in the dark.

Residents have have reported to Patch that they have not yet seen significant flooding from the storm, but the 11:14 a.m. high tide in Silver Bay Thursday morning remains a concern for the section of Toms River hit hard by Hurricane Sandy.

The National Weather Service had issued a coastal flood advisory Wednesday, predicting minor to moderate tidal flooding associated with the coastal storm. In preparation for the storm, Toms River emergency responders were at the ready.