Winter Weather — Inland Sussex, Delaware

2007-03-07 · Inland Sussex, Delaware

Wider weather episode

An Alberta Clipper low pressure system dropped light snow across Delaware during the day on the 7th. Accumulations averaged 1 to 4 inches. The recent unseasonably cold weather made it easier for the snow to accumulate on roadways and bridges and overpasses during the early morning and also during heavier bursts of snow. Consequently untreated roadways were slippery and many accidents were reported. Snow began falling before sunrise on the 7th in New Castle County and spread south during the morning and began in Sussex County by 9 a.m. EST. Later that day the snow ended in a similar direction (from north to south) during the late afternoon north and in the early evening south.

The early pre-dawn snow start time in New Castle County helped produce about 70 accidents in the county prior to 930 a.m. EST. About an additional 80 accidents occurred later in the day. The worst reported accident of the day transpired about 115 p.m. EST when an eight vehicle pile-up occurred on Delaware State Route 1 just north of Delaware State Route 273 in Bear. Four people were injured. The road was shut down for about an hour with intermittent lane closures for an additional two hours. In Kent County, there were 10 reported accidents with two injuries and in Sussex County there were 27 reported accidents with six injuries. Downstate schools either closed early or canceled after school activities.

Actual accumulations included 4.0 inches in Lincoln (Sussex County), 3.5 inches in Lewes (Sussex County), 1.5 inches in Hockessin (New Castle County), 1.3 inches in Dover (Kent County) and the New Castle County Airport and 1.0 inch in Camden (Kent County).

The Alberta Clipper as it name implies moved rapidly southeast from southeastern Montana at 7 a.m. EST on March 6th, to near Saint Louis, Missouri at 7 a.m. EST on March 7th, to the Virginia/West Virginia border at 1 p.m. EST on March 7th, to about 150 miles east of Virginia Beach, Virginia at 7 p.m. EST on March 7th. The rapid movement of the low pressure system prevented heavier snow from falling.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 21228. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.