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| 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, en route to Cape May, N.J . A calm of 30 minutes ensued before
hurricane-force blasts returned. A storm wave 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. 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 western 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 hurricanes. 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.., but 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 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 in Wilmington and a 75 mph gust in 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 in most areas.
1996 Hurricane Bertha tracked through the state 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 gusty gales.
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. Gales throughout the state. Widespread power outages and
thousands of trees uprooted. Modest rainfall and minor coastal flooding.
Much additional information on Delaware hurricanes is contained in the book,
Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States.
1821 The eye of the powerful Norfolk and Long Island Hurricane skimmed the Delaware coast and passed
over Cape Henlopen on Sept. 3, en route to Cape May, N.J . A calm of 30 minutes ensued before
hurricane-force blasts returned. A storm wave 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. 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 western 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 hurricanes. 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.., but 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 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 in Wilmington and a 75 mph gust in 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 in most areas.
1996 Hurricane Bertha tracked through the state 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 gusty gales.
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. Gales throughout the state. Widespread power outages and
thousands of trees uprooted. Modest rainfall and minor coastal flooding.
Much additional information on Delaware hurricanes is contained in the book,
Hurricanes and the Middle Atlantic States.
Hurricane Gloria in 1985 menaced the Delaware shore.
Warned to expect a devastating storm, damage proved
modest. Despite the danger, at least one shop owner in
Rehoboth Beach maintained a sense of humor.
Warned to expect a devastating storm, damage proved
modest. Despite the danger, at least one shop owner in
Rehoboth Beach maintained a sense of humor.
Delaware Weather Links
Office of the Delaware state climatologist. www.udel.edu/leathers/stclim.html
Office of the Delaware state climatologist. www.udel.edu/leathers/stclim.html
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| Summer 2008 |