Alert archive / Delaware / Tornado Warnings in 2026

Tornado Warning 10, NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly

July 18, 2026Sussex County, Delaware; Caroline County, Maryland

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued this tornado warning at Jul 18, 2026, 6:27 PM EDT for Sussex County, Delaware; Caroline County, Maryland. It was in force for 33 min. 5 reports came from inside the area while it was in force.

The area

The outline as issued, with what was reported inside it.

The facts

Issued: Jul 18, 2026, 6:27 PM EDT (22:27 UTC)
Expired: Jul 18, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT
In force: 33 min
Issued by: NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly
Area: Storm-based polygon
Tornado: Radar indicated
Hail: 1.0 in

Counties Sussex County, DE, Caroline County, MD

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 21 km from the middle of the area, began a volume at 22:30 UTC, the scan nearest the moment this went out.

Open the radar archive at this moment

The archived warnings, watches and discussions in force at that minute are drawn over the scan, this one among them.

What was reported inside it

Time	Report	Where	Remark
Jul 18, 6:27 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Nne Bethel, DE	A barn sustained loss of metal roof panels. Wind gusts of 75 mph was estimated to have occurred with these storms at this location. There was tree damage observed in the vicinity of the barn as well. Time estimated from radar.
Jul 18, 6:27 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 Nne Bethel, DE	Updates previous tstm wnd dmg report from 1 NNE Bethel. A barn sustained loss of metal roof panels on Oneals Road. Wind gusts of 75 mph was estimated to have occurred with these storms at this location. There was tree damage observed in the vicinity of the bar
Jul 18, 6:30 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	1 N Bethel, DE	Several trees down and multiple roofs damaged along Woodland Ferry Road near Bethel. Time estimated from radar.
Jul 18, 6:32 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	Seaford, DE	Several reports of trees down in and near Seaford. Time estimated from radar.
Jul 18, 6:36 PM EDT	TSTM WND DMG	3 Nnw Sycamore, DE	Numerous large tree limbs down on Fleetwood Pond Road east of Seaford. Time estimated from radar.

Local storm reports filed while the alert was in force, from inside its polygon or its counties.

The watch it was issued in

The SPC watch in force over the same counties when this warning went out.

Issued	Product	Office	Lasted
Jul 18, 1:55 PM EDT	Tornado Watch	SPC	6 hr

The nearest sounding before it

Washington/Dulle, VA (KIAD), launched 12:00Z, 10.5 hours before the alert went out and 160 km from the middle of its area. This is the routine balloon launch nearest before it, the air the forecaster had in hand, not a measurement taken for the alert.

Skew-T log-p

Temperature in red, dew point in green, the mixed-layer parcel dashed.

Hodograph

The wind turning with height, colored by layer: ground to 1 km, 1 to 3 km, 3 to 6 km, 6 to 10 km.

Mixed-layer CAPE: 1396 J/kg
Mixed-layer CIN: -112 J/kg
Mixed-layer LCL: 936 m above ground
0-6 km bulk shear: 31 kt
0-1 km storm-relative helicity: 126 m²/s²
0-3 km storm-relative helicity: 131 m²/s²
Significant tornado parameter: 0.4
Supercell composite: 5.1

Open this sounding in Storm Lab

The text

As transmitted.

174 
WFUS51 KPHI 182227
TORPHI
DEC005-MDC011-182300-
/O.NEW.KPHI.TO.W.0010.260718T2227Z-260718T2300Z/

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Tornado Warning
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
627 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

The National Weather Service in Mount Holly NJ has issued a

* Tornado Warning for...
  Northwestern Sussex County in southern Delaware...
  Southeastern Caroline County in eastern Maryland...

* Until 700 PM EDT.

* At 627 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
  was located near Seaford, or 10 miles east of Hurlock, moving
  northeast at 45 mph.

  HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

  SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

  IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
           shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. 
           Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree 
           damage is likely.

* Locations impacted include...
  Georgetown, Seaford, Laurel, Milton, Bridgeville, Ellendale,
  Sycamore, Blades, and Bethel.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency.
They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in
Mount Holly NJ.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3864 7571 3868 7576 3888 7544 3868 7522
      3853 7570
TIME...MOT...LOC 2227Z 236DEG 41KT 3859 7567 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Staarmann

3 follow-up statements

621 
WWUS51 KPHI 182238
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
638 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

DEC005-MDC011-182300-
/O.CON.KPHI.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260718T2300Z/
Sussex DE-Caroline MD-
638 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR
NORTHWESTERN SUSSEX AND SOUTHEASTERN CAROLINE COUNTIES...

At 637 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Bridgeville, or 9 miles west of Georgetown, moving
northeast at 50 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Georgetown, Seaford, Laurel, Milton, Bridgeville, Ellendale,
Sycamore, and Blades.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

If a tornado or other severe weather is spotted, report it to the
National Weather Service or your local nearest law enforcement agency
who will send your report. This act may save lives of others in the
path of dangerous weather.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3864 7571 3868 7576 3888 7544 3868 7522
      3857 7556
TIME...MOT...LOC 2237Z 231DEG 45KT 3870 7556 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Staarmann

259 
WWUS51 KPHI 182245
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
645 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

MDC011-182255-
/O.CAN.KPHI.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260718T2300Z/
Caroline MD-
645 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN CAROLINE COUNTY IS
CANCELLED...

The tornadic thunderstorm which prompted the warning has moved out 
of the warned area. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for southern
Delaware.

LAT...LON 3867 7564 3874 7567 3888 7544 3868 7522
      3862 7541
TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 236DEG 41KT 3876 7546 

$$

DEC005-182300-
/O.CON.KPHI.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260718T2300Z/
Sussex DE-
645 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...A TORNADO WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 700 PM EDT FOR CENTRAL
SUSSEX COUNTY...

At 645 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado
was located near Ellendale, or near Georgetown, moving northeast at
45 mph.

HAZARD...Tornado and quarter size hail.

SOURCE...Radar indicated rotation.

IMPACT...Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without 
         shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage 
         to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur.  Tree damage is 
         likely.

Locations impacted include...
Georgetown, Seaford, Milton, Bridgeville, and Ellendale.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TAKE COVER NOW! Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest
floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a
mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter
and protect yourself from flying debris.

If a tornado or other severe weather is spotted, report it to the
National Weather Service or your local nearest law enforcement agency
who will send your report. This act may save lives of others in the
path of dangerous weather.

Torrential rainfall is occurring with this storm, and may lead to
flash flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways.

&&

LAT...LON 3867 7564 3874 7567 3888 7544 3868 7522
      3862 7541
TIME...MOT...LOC 2245Z 236DEG 41KT 3876 7546 

TORNADO...RADAR INDICATED
MAX HAIL SIZE...1.00 IN

$$

Staarmann

842 
WWUS51 KPHI 182254
SVSPHI

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
654 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

DEC005-182303-
/O.EXP.KPHI.TO.W.0010.000000T0000Z-260718T2300Z/
Sussex DE-
654 PM EDT Sat Jul 18 2026

...THE TORNADO WARNING FOR CENTRAL SUSSEX COUNTY WILL EXPIRE AT 700
PM EDT...

The tornado threat has diminished and the Tornado Warning has been
cancelled. However, large hail and damaging winds remain likely and a
Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect for the area.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 900 PM EDT for southern
Delaware.

To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement
agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service
Mount Holly NJ.

LAT...LON 3867 7564 3874 7567 3888 7544 3868 7522
      3862 7541
TIME...MOT...LOC 2253Z 236DEG 41KT 3880 7538 

$$

Staarmann

The office that day

Everything else NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly issued on the same UTC day.

Issued	Product	Office	Counties	Lasted
Jul 18, 2:12 AM EDT	Heat Advisory	PHI	Sussex	17 hr
Jul 18, 5:14 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Kent, New Castle	61 min
Jul 18, 5:26 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Destructive damage threat	PHI	Kent, Sussex	49 min
Jul 18, 6:16 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Sussex	44 min
Jul 18, 6:40 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	PHI	Kent, Sussex	36 min
Jul 18, 6:54 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Sussex	22 min
Jul 18, 7:09 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Sussex	8 min
Jul 18, 5:39 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	Caroline, Queen Anne's, Talbot	62 min
Jul 18, 6:09 AM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	Kent, Queen Anne's	55 min
Jul 18, 4:13 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Kent, Queen Anne's	62 min
Jul 18, 5:05 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Caroline, Talbot	40 min
Jul 18, 5:53 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning Considerable damage threat	PHI	Caroline, Queen Anne's, Talbot	52 min
Jul 18, 6:24 PM EDT	Severe Thunderstorm Warning	PHI	Caroline, Talbot	20 min
Jul 18, 6:25 PM EDT	Flash Flood Warning	PHI	Caroline, Talbot	4 hr

Nearby

Tornado Warnings in Delaware, 2026 Tornado Warnings in Maryland, 2026 Every tornado warning in 2026 Tornadoes in 2026

Sources

The product and its follow-ups from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service and Storm Prediction Center text; local storm reports from the same archive; the sounding from the Mesonet's radiosonde archive; radar from the NEXRAD Level II archive.