High Wind in Delaware, October 8, 1996

Name: High Wind in Delaware, October 8, 1996
Start: 1996-10-08T15:30
End: 1996-10-08T18:30
Location: Delaware

October 8, 1996 · NWS PHI · 2 events in 2 counties and zones

High winds associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Josephine caused wind damage in Sussex County, mainly near and along the coast. Downed trees and power lines were reported.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.

High winds associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Josephine caused wind damage in Sussex County, mainly near and along the coast. Downed trees and power lines were reported. A wind gust to 58 mph was reported in Dewey Beach. Additionally, in Dewey Beach, one home lost a 20 foot by 20 foot section of its roof. In Bethany Beach, a restaurant lost shingles from their roof. About 4,000 homes lost power, mainly for less than 2 hours. The hardest hit communities included Dagsboro, Fenwick Island, Frankford and West Bethany.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

2 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, Inland Sussex

When: October 8, 3:30 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where: Inland Sussex forecast zone
Coordinates: 38.683, -75.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

High Wind, Delaware Beaches

When: October 8, 3:30 PM EST to 6:30 PM EST
Where: Delaware Beaches forecast zone
Measured: 50 kt (58 mph)
Coordinates: 38.683, -75.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

High Wind: Sustained non-thunderstorm winds of 40 mph or more for an hour, or gusts of 58 mph or more.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Delaware in 1996 Every state in 1996 This day in weather history Warnings in Delaware, October 1996

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5577371, 5577372.