Sussex storm history
Storm events recorded in Sussex, Delaware between 1950 and 2025.
833
Total events
28
Tornadoes
47
Hail
100
Floods
5
Deaths
$9.5M
Property damage
Most significant events
Strongest tornadoes, deadliest events, and biggest damage in this county. Up to 50 shown.
The Bridgeville-Ellendale Tornado began around 5:59 PM EDT near the intersection of Polk Road and Dublin Hill Road where a section of a small barn roof was blown off. The tornado continued east-northeast crossing Seashore Highway. Along this section of the damage path, a couple w…
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding occurred along portions of SR 1 Coastal Hwy.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flash flooding occurred along portions of Garfield Parkway and Hollywood Street.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree damage reported on Beaver Dam Rd. near Laurel. Time estimated from radar.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
Damage assessment determined that an EF0 tornado with a maximum wind speed of 65 mph briefly touched down along Omar Rd in Frankford, DE and moved ESE over a heavily forested area towards Shockley Town Rd. Several brief video clips shared by broadcast media and social media showe…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Delete.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured wind gust of 58 mph with tree limbs down nearby in Bethel from a microburst. Photo of tree limb down and video showing onset of microburst and severe winds provided in report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple tree branches snapped on Holly Branch Drive and Road 492A. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree split and snapped along Woodland Ferry Road right next to the Laurel Little League fields. Time estimated from radar.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Social media video of multiple roads closed due to flooding at the intersection of Central Blvd and N Pennsylvania Ave.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Water rescue of a person from a vehicle in flood water. Bethany Forest Drive flooded.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Dewey Beach mesonet gusted to 52 kt. Time given in report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wires down on Church Street. Time given in report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree reported down. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree was blown onto wires.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wires were blown down on Pine Ln.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and wires were blown down around Laurel.
Hail Hail
Tornado EF1 Tornado
On Friday May 16th, an EF-1 tornado occurred beginning in Dorchester County, Maryland before crossing into Sussex County, Delaware. While the tornado was in Sussex County, tree damage occurred in Phillips Landing Park. A tree was snapped and twisted near the base of its trunk wit…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Additional wind damage east of the path of the tornado was noted continuing eastward towards Laurel. This was the result of straight-line winds associated with the rear-flank downdraft which also caused the loss of all of the metal roofing on one commercial building as well as th…
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Multiple trees down on the south side of Milford, including one tree into a house. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of trees down on wires in Bridgeville and a tree down into a house. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree partially on house along Pepperbox Road. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Roof blown off a pole barn and trees blown down near Careys Camp Road and Little Hill Road. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree down on wires. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of several trees snapped and uprooted along a wooded area of Adams Road with several houses receiving roof damage and a couple sheds collapsed. Time estimated from radar. This was a result of a tornado.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Photos of several uprooted trees along Piney Neck Road at Marinas at Peppers Creek. Time estimated from radar. This was likely due to a tornado.
Tornado EF0 Tornado
An EF-0 tornado occurred on the afternoon of September 11, 2023, in the Dagsboro area of Sussex County, Delaware. The brief tornado began along Adams Road just east of Dagsboro where damage to multiple structures and trees was observed. A shed in a backyard of a home on Adams Roa…
Hail Hail
Trained spotter reports quarter-sized hail in Milton DE. Time given in report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of trees down in wires. Time estimated via radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Mesonet station xdew Dewey Beach. Time given in observation.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Several reports of trees and power lines down in the Seaford area. A few other similar reports from western Sussex County (US Route 13 corridor), which was the hardest hit area from the storm. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A few reports of trees and power lines down across Millsboro. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Power lines down per 911 Call Center. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Call Center reports a downed tree onto wires in Greenwood. Time estimated from radar.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flood waters inundated parts of a farmstead to the west of Georgetown. Some livestock was relocated due to the flooding.
Flash Flood Flash Flood
Flood waters reached at least 12 homes in Greenwood. The rising water was reported to have damaged 4 vehicles.
Funnel Cloud Funnel Cloud
Spotter reports funnel cloud near Route 24 and Peartree Road. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree limbs down onto power lines. Power outages reported. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree limbs down onto power lines. Approximately 2100 customers without power from the Bridgeville to Seaford to Blades areas. Time estimated from radar.
Hail Hail
Report of Video showing Quarter Sized Hail in Bayard, DE covering the ground. Time given in report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Report of train flipped over likely due to the tornado. Time estimated via radar.
Events by year
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | 2 |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 20 | 2 |
| 2022 | 33 | 0 |
| 2021 | 33 | 1 |
| 2020 | 48 | 1 |
| 2019 | 37 | 2 |
| 2018 | 14 | 0 |
| 2017 | 46 | 1 |
| 2016 | 142 | 0 |
| 2015 | 9 | 0 |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | 15 | 0 |
| 2012 | 26 | 0 |
| 2011 | 24 | 1 |
| 2010 | 13 | 0 |
| 2009 | 21 | 0 |
| 2008 | 18 | 0 |
| 2007 | 19 | 0 |
| 2006 | 24 | 0 |
| 2005 | 22 | 0 |
| 2004 | 14 | 0 |
| 2003 | 23 | 0 |
| 2002 | 22 | 0 |
| 2001 | 23 | 0 |
| 2000 | 15 | 0 |
| 1999 | 13 | 0 |
| 1998 | 19 | 1 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 |
| 1995 | 5 | 1 |
| 1994 | 2 | 0 |
| 1993 | 6 | 1 |
| 1992 | 13 | 4 |
| 1991 | 7 | 0 |
| 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1989 | 6 | 1 |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 |
| 1984 | 4 | 3 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 4 | 0 |
| 1979 | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 | 2 | 0 |
| 1976 | 6 | 1 |
| 1975 | 4 | 2 |
| 1974 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 4 | 0 |
| 1970 | 5 | 0 |
| 1969 | 3 | 0 |
| 1968 | 2 | 0 |
| 1967 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1962 | 1 | 1 |
| 1959 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 3 | 2 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |