Delaware
Delaware's average elevation is 60 feet. The state is small enough that a single storm affects every county at once. Sea-level rise is not a future projection here. It is a present reality measured in inches per decade along the Delaware Bay.
Enter your Delaware ZIP for live alerts, forecasts, and county-specific data.
Know your region
Rehoboth, Bethany, Lewes, Dewey Beach, the inland bays. Direct hurricane and nor'easter exposure. Storm surge pushes into coastal neighborhoods and the inland bay communities. Beach erosion requires expensive replenishment every few years.
Primary hazards: hurricanes, storm surge, coastal flooding, nor'easters
Wilmington, Newark, New Castle. The Christina and Brandywine rivers flood through the urban core regularly. The I-95 corridor is vulnerable to heavy rain events. Tidal flooding from the Delaware River is increasing.
Primary hazards: river flooding, severe storms, winter storms, tidal flooding
Dover, Smyrna, Milford. Agricultural flatland vulnerable to flooding and severe weather. The St. Jones River and Murderkill River flood during heavy rain. Tornadoes, while rare, have struck here.
Primary hazards: flooding, severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, heat
Your hazard profile
Each links to a full guide with during-event protocol, recovery steps, and resources specific to DE.
Hurricane Sandy caused significant flooding across the state. Delaware's low elevation means even moderate storm surge pushes water inland. Sea-level rise compounds the risk with every passing decade. Nor'easters bring coastal erosion and flooding multiple times per winter.
Read the hurricanes and nor'easters guide →
Tidal flooding in coastal communities is increasing year over year. The Christina and Brandywine rivers flood through Wilmington after heavy rain. Delaware Bay communities face regular nuisance flooding that is becoming more than a nuisance.
Read the flooding guide →
Summer thunderstorms bring damaging winds, hail, and 2 to 3 tornadoes per year. Lightning is a serious risk at the beaches. The state's small size means a single severe storm can affect a large percentage of the population.
Read the severe thunderstorms guide →
Nor'easters bring heavy snow and ice. The rain-snow line frequently crosses through Delaware during winter storms, creating messy and dangerous conditions. Northern New Castle County receives the heaviest snow.
Read the winter storms guide →
Coastal humidity makes summer heat dangerous. Heat indices above 105 degrees F occur several times each summer. The Wilmington urban heat island amplifies temperatures.
Read the heat waves guide →
Delaware resources
Delaware Emergency Management Agency. Coordinates disaster response, manages evacuation planning, and runs the state's emergency notification system.
Covers all of Delaware. Severe weather warnings, coastal flood advisories, winter storm forecasts, and rip current warnings for the beaches.
Delaware's coastal flooding information, sea-level rise projections, flood zone maps, and shoreline management programs.
Statewide information and referral. Energy assistance, food banks, shelter locations, and disaster recovery resources.
The math of sea-level rise
The tidal gauge at Lewes, Delaware has recorded over 14 inches of sea-level rise since 1919. That number is accelerating. What once was a twice-a-year nuisance flood in downtown Lewes now happens 10 or more times per year. Roads that were passable at high tide a generation ago now flood routinely.
Delaware's challenge is not a single catastrophic event. It is the slow, steady encroachment of water into places it did not used to reach. Flood insurance premiums are rising. Property values in low-lying areas are beginning to reflect the risk. Infrastructure built for a lower sea level is being overwhelmed.
For Delaware households, the preparation is both immediate and long-term: know your flood zone, carry flood insurance, and understand that the baseline is shifting. The storm that barely flooded your street five years ago may put water in your living room next time.