PlainHazard

Delaware natural disasters

The state's storm and disaster record · population 989,008 · 3 counties and county equivalents

NOAA's Storm Events Database records 4,839 storm events in Delaware since 1950, 4,551 of them since 1996 when every event type began to be recorded, and the Storm Prediction Center counts 77 tornadoes in the state since 1950. The most frequent records are severe thunderstorm wind events (1,109). In NOAA's storm record since 1950, the deadliest event in Delaware is the July 4, 1999 heat in New Castle County: 4 deaths and 10 injuries across 3 records. FEMA has made 26 declarations for Delaware since 1962, 24 for natural hazards; 20 were major disasters.

The record, 1950 to 2026

Storm events recorded in Delaware each year (2026 to June 30, 2026). Before 1996 NOAA recorded only tornadoes (from 1950), thunderstorm wind and hail (from 1955).

  • recorded, no damage figure
  • under $1 million
  • $1 million or more
  • $10 million or more
  • $100 million or more, or 10 deaths
  • $1 billion or more, or 100 deaths
  • a year's colour: its recorded damage or deaths
  • a year with a death
  • 1955: wind and hail recorded from 1955
  • 1996: all 48 event types from 1996
Storm events recorded
4,8391950 to June 30, 2026
Deaths recorded
41886 injuries
Damage, 2025 dollars
$306Mas filed (scale steps before 1993)
Tornadoes (SPC)
771950 to 2025
FEMA declarations
2620 major disasters

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records through June 30, 2026 (file revision 20260918); tornado count: NOAA Storm Prediction Center, 1950-2025; damage in 2025 dollars (BLS CPI-U). Search the record at NCEI.

What natural disasters happen in Delaware?

By NOAA's records, Delaware's most frequent hazards are severe thunderstorm wind events (1,109), high wind and dust records (722), winter storm records (638); the deadliest are winter storm records (9 deaths). Each hazard is counted over the years NOAA has recorded it everywhere: tornadoes since 1950, hail and thunderstorm wind since 1955, everything else since 1996. Open a hazard for its years, months, counties and worst events.

Delaware: records by hazard to June 30, 2026
HazardRecordsLast 10 yearsKilledInjuredDamageCounties
Severe thunderstorm wind 1,109463 221$10M 3 of 3
High wind and dust storms 72254 45$22M 3 of 3
Winter storms 638118 9560$17M 3 of 3
Floods 615219 412$128M 3 of 3
Heavy rain 35966 01– 3 of 3
Heat 30323 977– 3 of 3
Drought 2070 00$52M 3 of 3
Fog, smoke and funnel clouds 18568 00– 3 of 3
Hail 15945 00$618K 3 of 3
Lightning 14520 013$9.4M 3 of 3
Rip currents and high surf 1247 5113$146K 3 of 3
Extreme cold 1102 54– 3 of 3
Tornadoes 8118 378$36M 3 of 3
Hurricanes and tropical storms 656 00$30M 3 of 3
Wildfires 170 02$7K 3 of 3

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: every record counted once in the state; "last 10 years" is 2017-2026 (2026 to June 30, 2026).

What were the deadliest disasters in Delaware?

The storms with the most deaths since 1950, from the National Weather Service's own entries. NOAA files one storm as several records when it crosses forecast zones and counties or changes type, and groups them under one episode; each row here is an episode, with its totals and the narrative of its deadliest record. Before 1996 tornado records carry no episode and stand alone. The narrative says what happened: some deaths the National Weather Service files under a weather type had another cause beside the weather.

Delaware: the 10 storm episodes with the most deaths
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
1999-07-04 HeatNew Castle County · forecast zone New Castle One storm episode: 3 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. A very strong and oppressive high pressure system that extended from the surface to aloft gave Delaware a brutal heat wave that included the entire Independence Day weekend. There were four heat related deaths, two in New Castle County, two in Sussex County. There were also about 10 heat related injuries reported. ... 4 10 –
2007-02-06 Extreme Cold/Wind ChillNew Castle County · forecast zone New Castle One storm episode: 4 records in 3 places; the totals are the episode's. An arctic air mass that originated near the North Pole invaded Delaware on the 5th and 6th. The combination of the unseasonably cold air and gusty northwest winds produced wind chill factors as low as zero to 10 degrees below zero during the mornings of the 5th and 6th. The lowest temperatures occurred during the ... 4 4 –
2008-03-08 Strong WindSussex County · forecast zone Inland Sussex One storm episode: 3 records in 3 places; the totals are the episode's. A line of severe thunderstorms that accompanied a cold frontal passage produced wind damage across northern Delaware during the late afternoon of the 8th. The combination of the severe storms and then strong winds which followed caused about 15,000 Delmarva Power and Light customers to lose power. Elsewhere in the ... 40 kt wind 3 0 $101K
2007-02-25 Winter StormNew Castle County · forecast zone New Castle One storm episode: 3 records in 3 places; the totals are the episode's. A winter storm that featured mixed precipitation affected Delaware on the 25th. Snowfall accumulations averaged 2 to 4 inches in Kent and New Castle Counties and less than two inches in Sussex County. Ice accretions averaged a tenth of an inch or less in Kent and Sussex Counties and up to around one quarter of an inch ... 2 24 –
1983-07-21 Tornadoes of the day; the deadliest, Hartly, killed 2 (SPC) · TornadoKent County F2 1 mi x 20 yd 2 9 $250K step
2006-08-01 HeatKent County · forecast zone Kent One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. A strong area of high pressure anchored over the East Coast and the western Atlantic, resulted in a stretch of excessive heat for the entire region to start off August 2006. The very hot air mass was accompanied by humid conditions as the dew points surged into the upper 60s and lower 70s for a time. It could have ... 2 5 –
2010-02-09 Winter StormNew Castle County · forecast zone New Castle One storm episode: 4 records in 3 places; the totals are the episode's. For the second time within a week a major winter storm, this one with blizzard conditions at times, affected the state of Delaware. Blizzard conditions occurred at times during the afternoon and early evening of the 10th. Accumulations averaged around one foot with the highest amounts in New Castle County. Ice ... 2 4 $11M
1999-09-16 Hurricane Floyd · Flash FloodCountywide, New Castle County One storm episode: 3 records in 3 places; the totals are the episode's. Hurricane Floyd battered Delaware (especially New Castle County) on September 16th and brought with it torrential rains and damaging winds. The hurricane caused widespread flash flooding as storm totals averaged around nine inches, most of which fell in a twelve hour period from the early morning through the afternoon ... 2 2 $15M
2011-08-27 Hurricane Irene · Flash FloodMilford Xrds, New Castle County One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. Hurricane Irene produced heavy flooding rain, widespread tropical storm force wind gusts, a confirmed tornado near Lewes in Sussex County, moderate to severe coastal flooding and beach erosion and caused two flooding related deaths, forced evacuations near the coast over the weekend of August 27th and 28th in ... 2 0 –
2012-01-21 Winter WeatherNew Castle County · forecast zone New Castle One storm episode: 2 records in 2 places; the totals are the episode's. A low pressure system that passed south of Delaware during the morning of the 21st brought a wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain to the state. Snowfall in New Castle County averaged 1 to 3 inches and less than an inch in Kent and Sussex Counties. Ice accretions averaged around one tenth of an inch. Because ... 1 11 –

A damage figure marked "step" is a record from before 1993: NOAA then filed damage by category, and the figure is the category as entered, in the dollars of that year, not an estimate of the loss.

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: deaths direct and indirect, as filed in this state, summed over the records of each episode (EPISODE_ID); a forecast-zone record counts the zone's deaths once. A tornado's whole-track deaths (SPC), on the state's tornado page, can be higher when the track crossed a state line. Storm names from the titles of FEMA declarations that name the storm's counties.

The costliest records in Delaware

Delaware: the 8 records with the most damage since 1993, 2025 dollars
DateRecordCharacterKilledInjuredDamage
2009-11-12 Coastal FloodSussex County · forecast zone Delaware Beaches 0 0 $55M
1999-09-01 DroughtSussex County · forecast zone Inland Sussex 0 0 $36M
2003-09-15 Flash FloodNorth Portion, New Castle County 0 1 $26M
2003-09-18 High WindNew Castle County · forecast zone New Castle 50 kt wind 0 0 $15M
1999-09-16 Flash FloodCountywide, New Castle County 2 1 $14M
1999-09-01 DroughtKent County · forecast zone Kent 0 0 $14M
2003-09-18 Tropical StormKent County · forecast zone Kent 0 0 $14M
2003-09-18 Tropical StormSussex County · forecast zone Inland Sussex 0 0 $13M

Before 1993 NOAA filed damage by category, not amount, so the list above starts in 1993. The highest category filed here before then (entered as $2.5M, in the dollars of the day) holds: June 7, 1988 (tornado, Kent County); June 9, 1989 (tornado, New Castle County); June 7, 1988 (tornado, New Castle County).

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database: property and crop damage as estimated by the National Weather Service, converted to 2025 dollars with the BLS CPI-U. BLS consumer price index.

Which counties in Delaware have the most records?

  1. Sussex County 2,155
  2. New Castle County 1,569
  3. Kent County 1,106

Source: NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database, records since 1950 attributed to each county (forecast-zone records count on every county the zone covers).

Every county in Delaware

Billion-dollar disasters in Delaware

NOAA counted 35 weather or climate disasters from 1980-2024 that cost at least $1 billion (adjusted for inflation) and affected Delaware, led by winter storm (12). The most recent: Southern Tornado Outbreak and East Coast Storm (2024); East Coast Storm and Flooding (2023); Northeastern and Eastern Severe Weather (2023).

Delaware: billion-dollar disasters by type, 1980-2024
TypeEventsTotal cost (NOAA's range)
Winter Storm12$500M-$1.0B
Tropical Cyclone8$1.0B-$2.0B
Severe Storm7$250M-$500M
Drought5$500M-$1.0B
Flooding2$5M-$100M
Freeze1$5M-$100M
Every one of the 35, newest first
  • Southern Tornado Outbreak and East Coast Storm2024
  • East Coast Storm and Flooding2023
  • Northeastern and Eastern Severe Weather2023
  • Central and Eastern Winter Storm and Cold Wave2022
  • Hurricane Ida2021
  • Hurricane Isaias2020
  • Central, Southern and Eastern Severe Weather2020
  • Southeast and Eastern Tornado Outbreak2020
  • Northeast Winter Storm2018
  • Central and Eastern Winter storm, Cold Wave2015
  • Rockies/Midwest/Eastern Severe Weather2014
  • Midwest/Southeast/Northeast Tornadoes and Flooding2014
  • Hurricane Sandy2012
  • U.S. Drought/Heat Wave2012
  • Southern Plains/Southwest Drought and Heat Wave2011
  • Northeast Winter Storm2010
  • Western/Eastern Drought/Heat Wave2007
  • East/South Severe Weather and Flooding2007
  • Northeast Flooding2006
  • Hurricane Jeanne2004
  • Hurricane Ivan2004
  • Hurricane Isabel2003
  • U.S. Drought2002
  • Hurricane Floyd1999
  • Central and Eastern Winter Storm1999
  • Blizzard/Floods1996
  • Central, Southern and Northeast Drought/Heat Wave1995
  • Southeast Ice Storm1994
  • Winter Storm, Cold Wave1994
  • East Coast Blizzard and Severe Weather1993
  • Northeast Winter Storm1992
  • Hurricane Gloria1985
  • Winter Storm, Cold Wave1985
  • Freeze/Cold Wave1983
  • Midwest/Southeast/Northeast Winter Storm, Cold Wave1982

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, state summary for Delaware, 1980-2024 (NCEI's last update; the product is archived). A disaster that affected several states counts in each. NCEI billion-dollar disasters.

Federal disaster declarations in Delaware

FEMA has made 26 declarations for Delaware since 1962: 20 major disasters, 6 emergencies and 0 fire management assistance declarations. The most common incident types are hurricane (10), snowstorm (5), severe storm (4).

  1. Hurricane 10
  2. Snowstorm 5
  3. Severe Storm 4
  4. Biological 2
  5. Flood 2
  6. Winter Storm 1
  7. Coastal Storm 1
  8. Drought 1
  1. 1960s 2
  2. 1990s 7
  3. 2000s 6
  4. 2010s 6
  5. 2020s 5
The 15 most recent declarations in Delaware
DeclaredNumberTypeTitleAreas named
2026-05-29DR-4916Winter StormSevere Winter Storm2
2021-10-24DR-4627HurricaneRemnants of Hurricane Ida1
2020-10-02DR-4566HurricaneTropical Storm Isaias2
2020-04-05DR-4526BiologicalCovid-19 Pandemic3
2020-03-13EM-3449BiologicalCovid-193
2016-03-16DR-4265SnowstormSevere Winter Storm and Snowstorm1
2012-11-16DR-4090HurricaneHurricane Sandy3
2012-10-29EM-3357HurricaneHurricane Sandy3
2011-09-30DR-4037HurricaneHurricane Irene2
2011-08-28EM-3336HurricaneHurricane Irene3
2010-03-31DR-1896SnowstormSevere Winter Storms and Snowstorms3
2006-07-05DR-1654Severe StormSevere Storms and Flooding1
2005-09-30EM-3263HurricaneHurricane Katrina Evacuation3
2004-11-15DR-1572Severe StormSevere Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding From the Remnants of1
2003-09-23DR-1495HurricaneTropical Storm Henri1

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations Summaries (v2), through October 2, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.

Flood insurance claims in Delaware

The National Flood Insurance Program has paid $91.0 million on 6,258 claims in 3 Delaware counties. Claims count insured losses only.

Source: FEMA OpenFEMA NFIP Redacted Claims, as of September 8, 2026. OpenFEMA dataset page.

FEMA's modeled risk across Delaware's counties

How FEMA's National Risk Index rates Delaware's counties overall: a model of expected future loss from 18 hazards, not a count of events.

  1. Relatively High 1
  2. Relatively Moderate 2

Source: FEMA National Risk Index, county table, December 2025 release. FEMA's National Risk Index map.

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