NWS Confirms Tornado Touched Down in Wilmington, Delaware, in Rare November Storm
The National Weather Service confirmed on Thursday afternoon that a tornado touched down in New Castle County, Delaware, as severe thunderstorms swept the Wilmington area, flipping a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 and dropping hail across northern Delaware.
The confirmation came hours after the storm passed, when the weather service’s Philadelphia/Mount Holly office said a tornado had occurred in the county earlier in the afternoon and that a complete report on its track and intensity would be released Friday through a Public Information Statement. FOX 29 Philadelphia also reported the confirmation.
Tornado warning covered Wilmington and nearby towns
The weather service issued a tornado warning at 1:13 p.m. EST for northeastern New Castle County, covering Wilmington, Newport, Wilmington Manor, Christiana and New Castle. The warning ran until 1:45 p.m., was based on radar-indicated rotation and warned of possible quarter-size hail. More than 256,000 people, 67 schools and eight hospitals were inside the warning area.
Photographs and video from the storm showed a narrow funnel reaching toward the ground near the Can Do Playground in Wilmington, and a Delaware Department of Transportation traffic camera captured a funnel near U.S. Route 13 Business at Holly Oak Road. Other reports placed funnel clouds near Churchmans Road and Christiana Mall, close to the Route 273, Route 1 and Interstate 95 junction.
Damage reports along Interstate 95
The storm flipped a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 near Route 273, and residents reported downed trees, hail from pea-size to ping-pong-ball size, heavy rain and flash flooding. Hail fell for about 15 minutes around Newark and Pike Creek, with large hail reported at the University of Delaware and near Christiana Hospital.
No injuries had been reported by Thursday evening.
The tornado was part of a broader outbreak of severe weather across the Northeast. A tornado watch remained in effect until 7 p.m. EST for eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, northern Delaware and parts of Maryland, covering more than 10 million people, with forecasters warning of a few tornadoes, hail up to ping-pong-ball size and gusts up to 70 mph.
A rare November tornado for Delaware
A tornado in November is unusual for Delaware. Meteorologists tracking the storm noted that, if the survey confirms a November touchdown, it would be the state’s first tornado in November or December since 1989. Delaware has recorded 87 tornadoes since 1680, with only five deaths in that entire span.
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What happens next
Survey teams were expected to examine the damage path on Friday to determine the tornado’s strength on the Enhanced Fujita scale and how far it traveled. Until then, it has no official EF rating.
Residents who photographed damage were asked to share locations and images with the weather service to help the survey. More severe-weather and disaster coverage appears in NNews.pro’s World Risks section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Wilmington tornado confirmed?
Yes. The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, confirmed on Thursday afternoon that a tornado occurred in New Castle County. A detailed report on its track and intensity is expected Friday.
Was anyone hurt in the Delaware tornado?
No injuries had been reported by Thursday evening. A tractor-trailer was flipped on Interstate 95 near Route 273, with downed trees and hail damage reported across the Wilmington area.
How rare is a November tornado in Delaware?
Very rare. Meteorologists noted it would be Delaware’s first tornado in November or December since 1989.
The tornado warning has expired, and the watch ran until 7 p.m. EST. Friday’s survey will establish the tornado’s official rating and full damage path.
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Sources: National Weather Service Philadelphia/Mount Holly; FOX 29 Philadelphia; NBC10 Philadelphia; National Weather Service Wilmington DE alerts; 6abc Storm Tracker.
