BALTIMORE — The ocean is officially closed.

That’s the message from the Ocean City Fire Department as rough weather brought high winds, heavy surf and flooding to the resort Saturday.

The department issued an ocean safety alert Saturday morning because of dangerous conditions along the beach. Details of the closure were not immediately available, but officials urged people to stay out of the water.

The weather was causing problems beyond the beach, too.

Ocean City Police closed portions of Philadelphia Avenue because of standing water left by the morning’s high tide.

As of 10:40 a.m., Philadelphia Avenue was closed south of 12th Street. Earlier Saturday, police had closed the road south of Fourth Street.

Flooding was expected to take several hours to recede, police said. Residents living in the affected area were being allowed access.

Police urged motorists to limit travel in the area and warned drivers not to enter standing water if they could not determine its depth or the condition of the roadway.

The rough weather also brought an early end to Oceans Calling, which canceled the remainder of its three-day festival Friday after worsening winds and beach erosion made it impossible to continue preparations for shows scheduled Saturday and Sunday at the Ocean City Inlet.

Organizers cited the National Weather Service’s updated forecast for the nor’easter, along with high tides, flooding and strong winds, in announcing the cancellation.

The Ocean City weather forecast offered little immediate relief.

Rain was expected through the afternoon. Temperatures were expected to reach only about 64 degrees, with north winds around 30 mph and gusts as high as 46 mph.

Rain was likely again Saturday night, with winds gusting to nearly 40 mph, NWS officials said.

Sunday was expected to remain wet and breezy, with a high near 65 and wind gusts up to 36 mph.

So, if you were hoping for a September beach day, Saturday was offering a clear message: Stay on the boardwalk.

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