Heavy Snow — Kent, Delaware

2014-01-28 to 2014-01-29 · Kent, Delaware

Wider weather episode

Heavy snow fell across central and southern Delaware during the evening and overnight on the 28th. Lighter accumulating snow fell in New Castle County. Snow started on the evening of the 28th and ended during the early morning of the 29th. Snowfall averaged 5 inches in Kent and Sussex Counties and around 1 inch in New Castle County. The snow to liquid equivalent ratios were high with this event, creating an incredibly dry and fluffy snow.

With cold temperatures in place, snow accumulated quickly leading to slippery and snow covered roadways. Because the snow fell overnight, the total number of accidents was relatively low. Delaware State Police reported 19 accidents, 9 with injuries as well as 17 disabled vehicles. The overnight snow caused schools in Sussex County to be closed and state offices in Kent and Sussex Counties had delayed openings. Following this system, an arctic air mass, coupled with the snow cover, produced some below zero temperatures in Delaware. In fact, the low temperature of 5 degrees below zero in Georgetown on the morning of the 30th was the coldest of the winter season.

Representative snowfall totals included 5.4 inches in Harrington (Kent County) and Ellendale (Sussex County), 5.0 inches in Viola (Kent County), Milton and Selbyville (both Sussex County), 4.5 inches in Harbeson (Sussex County), 2.3 inches in Townsend (New Castle County) and 1.0 inches at the New Castle County Airport.

The snow was caused by a low pressure that formed along a front in the northern Gulf of Mexico on the 28th. By the night of the 28th, the low pressure system had moved off the Carolina coast and precipitation had reached Delaware. However, dry air across the region from a high pressure system over New England and the Ohio Valley limited the heavier snow to the southern two-thirds of the state. This low pressure system quickly moved off the Carolina coastline the morning of the 29th, with bitterly cold air moving in behind it.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 495934. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.