Sussex County, Delaware
Tornadoes, hail, floods and severe storms recorded here between 1955 and 2026, from NOAA's Storm Events Database. Search an address to see which tornadoes came closest to it.
28
Tornado reports
48
Hail reports
100
Floods since 1996
856
All events
5
Deaths
$9.6M
Property damage
Tornado paths in Sussex County
The part of each tornado’s path NOAA recorded in this county, 28 in all. Zoom in and the paths widen to their surveyed width.
EF0EF1EF2EF3EF4EF5Unrated
Year by year
All storm eventsTornadoes
NOAA's storm database records tornadoes back to 1950 and hail and thunderstorm wind back to 1955, but floods only from 1996 on. Older floods are missing here. For those, the U.S. Geological Survey's stream gauge records and flood reports are the place to look.
Most significant events
The strongest tornadoes, deadliest events and biggest damage here, up to 50.
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…
Lightning Lightning
A utility pole struck by lightning. Pole needs to be replaced. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Tree onto power lines resulting in several power outages. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Large tree limbs down. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees down near the intersection of Redden Rd and Maple Branch Rd. Time estimated by radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wires down near the intersection of South Old State Rd and Clendaniel Dr. Time estimated by radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
There were multiple reports of large trees blown down in Milford.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees down along Seashore Highway. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Peterkins Road is closed from Evergreen Drive to Haven Drive due to trees and wires down in the road. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Wires down along Route 9 in southern Delaware. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and wires down on Wil King Road. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Eight power poles reported down near Beaver Dam Road and Dairy Farm Road. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Trees and wires down in Lewes. Time estimated from radar.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
Measured 68 mph wind gust by broadcast media meteorologist. Partial roof blown off shed. Photo provided in report. Time given in report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
A 61 MPH wind gust was measured at Delaware Coastal Airport. Time given in report.
Thunderstorm Wind Thunderstorm Wind
The Dewey Beach mesonet measured a 58 MPH gust.
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.
Events by year, as a table
| Year | Events | Tornadoes |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 15 | 0 |
| 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 | 19 | 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 |
Search your address
See every tornado that passed within 25 miles of a place in Sussex County, measured to its path.
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