10/10/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/10/2025 11:03
Georgetown, Del. (1 p.m. Fri., Oct. 10, 2025): A major coastal storm is on track to lash the mid-Atlantic region, including Sussex County, with heavy rains, gusty winds, and moderate to major tidal flooding throughout the Columbus Day weekend, potentially hampering travel, causing power outages, and scouring local beaches.
The National Weather Service has issued a coastal flood watch and a high wind watch for Sussex County, beginning early Sunday and extending into Monday, as a major coastal storm - the first nor'easter of the fall season - is forecast to develop along the southeastern United States and slowly move north. The storm, along with strong high pressure to the north, is expected to force stiff winds into the region through several tide cycles over a 36- to 48-hour period, causing moderate to major coastal flooding, as well as gusty conditions along the coast and inland. Additionally, the storm, fueled by tropical moisture, is forecast to dump an average of 1 to 3 inches of rain, with possible higher amounts up to 5 inches, before eventually moving out of the region by late Monday or early Tuesday morning.
Property owners should prepare now by relocating vehicles from low-lying and flood-prone areas, removing or securing loose objects, and clearing storm drains and gutters.
Sussex County Emergency Management continues to monitor this situation and is working closely with other local and state governmental agencies to track the latest forecasts and coordinate resources, including pre-positioning assets and identifying potential reception centers should sheltering become necessary. At this time, no shelters have been designated. Additional staff are being called in to the County's Emergency Operations Center and paramedic stations to be on standby and respond to issues that may arise during and after the event. The EOC will be on limited activation beginning at 9 a.m. Sunday.
Stay tuned to local media, as well as the Sussex County website at www.sussexcountyde.gov. The public also should monitor the National Weather Service, at www.weather.gov/phi for the latest forecasts. Meantime, Sussex County offers a variety of social media outlets to relay the latest storm information. Please follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SussexCountyDE and www.facebook.com/SussexCountyEmergencyManagement, and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/sussexde_govt and www.x.com/SussexCtyDE_EM. Updates will be issued as needed.
For a list of road closures, visit the Delaware Department of Transportation website at www.deldot.gov. To view a map of power outages in Sussex County, visit Delmarva Power's website at www.delmarva.com and the Delaware Electric Cooperative's website at www.delaware.coop.
For more information on preparing for coastal storms and other weather events, including Know Your Zone evacuation maps, visit Sussex County's preparedness homepage at https://sussexcountyde.gov/emergency-management, PrepareDE's website at www.preparede.org, or the NOAA Weather Ready Nation homepage at www.weather.gov/wrn/.
Sussex County reminds the public to only call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Members of the public who have questions regarding this information should contact Sussex County Emergency Management at (302) 856-7360.
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