 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Hurricanes and Delaware |
The following are some of Delaware's significant tropical cyclones:
1821 The eye of the powerful Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane skimmed the Delaware coast and passed
over Cape Henlopen on Sept. 3. A calm of 30 minutes ensued before hurricane-force blasts returned. A storm
wave, described as a "tidal wave" about six to eight feet high, swept through the Delaware Bay causing
shoreline devastation.
1878 The Great October Gale on the 23rd caused widespread wind damage throughout the state. A storm
wave inundated the Delaware Bay region along 30 miles of shoreline. In some places, the water advanced
inland for more than a mile. Broadsides of hurricane force claimed 100 roofs in Wilmington. This event ranks
among the state's most destructive windstorms, with widespread tropical storm to hurricane-force gusts
throughout Delaware.
1888 A long-lasting tornado related to a hurricane tracking through Pennsylvania swept south of Newark
and into Wilmington on August 21. Four people killed. (The tornado originated in the Washington, D.C., area
and tracked almost continuously for more than 80 miles.)
1889 One of Delaware's most destructive coastal storms. A hurricane stalled off the coast from Sept. 8-12,
producing erosive and enveloping surf. Many ships lost. The storm ravaged Lewes and other villages along the
Delaware Bay. At least 32 vessels washed ashore or wrecked at Lewes.
1903 Two tropical cyclones affected coastal sections. The first, on Sept. 16-17, came ashore near Atlantic
City, N.J.. Heavy squalls buffeted Delaware. Gusts at Lewes peaked at 80 mph. Then, from Oct. 8-12, a
hurricane stalled off the coast. Surging tides invaded the land causing severe erosion and immense waterfront
damage.
1904 A tropical cyclone tracked through the state on Sept. 14. Winds gusted to 100 mph in Lewes.
1933 Aug. 23. The Chesapeake and Potomac Hurricane made landfall on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
Days of strong onshore winds brought increasing tides and major coastal flooding. Heavy rains and persistent
gales caused inland flooding and uprooted thousands of trees. 13.24 inches of rain at Bridgeville (Aug. 21-24).
1936 Hurricane-force winds blasted the coast on Sept. 17 as a Category 2 hurricane swept a short distance
offshore. The Long Island, a fishing boat, sank in the Delaware Bay, with the loss of seven crew members.
1944 The Great Atlantic Hurricane passed offshore on Sept 14. Hurricane-force winds along the entire
Delaware coast. The freighter Thomas Tracy grounded in Rehoboth Beach. The resort was battered by gusts up
to 90 mph and angry surf. Heavy rain pelted inland sections.
1954 Hurricane Hazel on October 15. One of the state's worst windstorms. Hurricane-force gusts in most
areas. A 98 mph gust was recorded in Wilmington, and a 75 mph gust lashed Lewes. The National Guard
Armory in Dover was destroyed by wind. Generally, less than an inch of rain throughout the state.
1960 Hurricane Donna tracked about 75 miles offshore on Sept. 12. Hurricane-force gusts along the coast
and damaging surf. Several inches of rain and strong gales throughout Delaware.
1985 Hurricane Gloria provided more scare than wind on Sept. 27. Hurricane-force gusts along the lower
Delaware shore. Several inches of rain and gales throughout the state.
1996 Hurricane Bertha tracked through Delaware on July 12 bringing widespread gales and several inches
of rain. On Sept. 5, Hurricane Fran passed well west but still whipped most areas with gusts of 40 to 55 mph.
1999 Hurricane Floyd's eye tracked over Fenwick Island in extreme southeastern Delaware on Sept. 16.
Gale-force winds. Epic rainfall deluged interior sections. More than 10 inches in some places. A state
calendar-day rainfall record was set at Greenwood, 10.58 inches.
2003 Hurricane Isabel on Sept. 18-19 tracked west of the state. Gales throughout Delaware. Peak gusts in
the state about 60-65 mph. Widespread power outages and thousands of trees uprooted. Modest rainfall and
minor coastal flooding.
1821 The eye of the powerful Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane skimmed the Delaware coast and passed
over Cape Henlopen on Sept. 3. A calm of 30 minutes ensued before hurricane-force blasts returned. A storm
wave, described as a "tidal wave" about six to eight feet high, swept through the Delaware Bay causing
shoreline devastation.
1878 The Great October Gale on the 23rd caused widespread wind damage throughout the state. A storm
wave inundated the Delaware Bay region along 30 miles of shoreline. In some places, the water advanced
inland for more than a mile. Broadsides of hurricane force claimed 100 roofs in Wilmington. This event ranks
among the state's most destructive windstorms, with widespread tropical storm to hurricane-force gusts
throughout Delaware.
1888 A long-lasting tornado related to a hurricane tracking through Pennsylvania swept south of Newark
and into Wilmington on August 21. Four people killed. (The tornado originated in the Washington, D.C., area
and tracked almost continuously for more than 80 miles.)
1889 One of Delaware's most destructive coastal storms. A hurricane stalled off the coast from Sept. 8-12,
producing erosive and enveloping surf. Many ships lost. The storm ravaged Lewes and other villages along the
Delaware Bay. At least 32 vessels washed ashore or wrecked at Lewes.
1903 Two tropical cyclones affected coastal sections. The first, on Sept. 16-17, came ashore near Atlantic
City, N.J.. Heavy squalls buffeted Delaware. Gusts at Lewes peaked at 80 mph. Then, from Oct. 8-12, a
hurricane stalled off the coast. Surging tides invaded the land causing severe erosion and immense waterfront
damage.
1904 A tropical cyclone tracked through the state on Sept. 14. Winds gusted to 100 mph in Lewes.
1933 Aug. 23. The Chesapeake and Potomac Hurricane made landfall on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
Days of strong onshore winds brought increasing tides and major coastal flooding. Heavy rains and persistent
gales caused inland flooding and uprooted thousands of trees. 13.24 inches of rain at Bridgeville (Aug. 21-24).
1936 Hurricane-force winds blasted the coast on Sept. 17 as a Category 2 hurricane swept a short distance
offshore. The Long Island, a fishing boat, sank in the Delaware Bay, with the loss of seven crew members.
1944 The Great Atlantic Hurricane passed offshore on Sept 14. Hurricane-force winds along the entire
Delaware coast. The freighter Thomas Tracy grounded in Rehoboth Beach. The resort was battered by gusts up
to 90 mph and angry surf. Heavy rain pelted inland sections.
1954 Hurricane Hazel on October 15. One of the state's worst windstorms. Hurricane-force gusts in most
areas. A 98 mph gust was recorded in Wilmington, and a 75 mph gust lashed Lewes. The National Guard
Armory in Dover was destroyed by wind. Generally, less than an inch of rain throughout the state.
1960 Hurricane Donna tracked about 75 miles offshore on Sept. 12. Hurricane-force gusts along the coast
and damaging surf. Several inches of rain and strong gales throughout Delaware.
1985 Hurricane Gloria provided more scare than wind on Sept. 27. Hurricane-force gusts along the lower
Delaware shore. Several inches of rain and gales throughout the state.
1996 Hurricane Bertha tracked through Delaware on July 12 bringing widespread gales and several inches
of rain. On Sept. 5, Hurricane Fran passed well west but still whipped most areas with gusts of 40 to 55 mph.
1999 Hurricane Floyd's eye tracked over Fenwick Island in extreme southeastern Delaware on Sept. 16.
Gale-force winds. Epic rainfall deluged interior sections. More than 10 inches in some places. A state
calendar-day rainfall record was set at Greenwood, 10.58 inches.
2003 Hurricane Isabel on Sept. 18-19 tracked west of the state. Gales throughout Delaware. Peak gusts in
the state about 60-65 mph. Widespread power outages and thousands of trees uprooted. Modest rainfall and
minor coastal flooding.
| Delaware Weather Links Office of the Delaware state climatologist: www.udel.edu/leathers/stclim.html Unisys offers maps of hurricane tracks beginning in 1851: http://weather.unisys.com |
| To learn more, order Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States. Send a check or money order for $25.95, postpaid. (Internet special-- The regular price is $32.95.) Virginia residents add $1.00 sales tax. Make checks payable to Blue Diamond Books. Mail to: 6516 China Grove Ct., Alexandria, VA 22310 Or pay by credit card through the convenience of PayPal (see Home Page). |
The eye of Hurricane Floyd (1999) tracked over Fenwick Island, Delaware. The prodigious rain that
bucketed interior sections made Floyd unforgettable to many state residents. (Photo by Rick Schwartz, author
of Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States)
bucketed interior sections made Floyd unforgettable to many state residents. (Photo by Rick Schwartz, author
of Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States)