Flash Flood in Delaware, August 20, 1997

Heavy rain fell across southern sections of the Maryland Eastern Shore and Central Delaware as thunderstorms continued to reform and move over the same locations. The rain became heavier as a developing low pressure system intensified over Delaware and Southern New Jersey. Storm totals averaged between 3 and 9 inches in Kent County with the heaviest amounts toward Delaware Bay. In Dover, the storm total was 8.94 inches. In spite of the torrential downpours, the drought conditions that have occurred all summer helped the ground absorb much of the rain. The only reported flooding was along the Puncheon Run in Dover. The heavy rain also contributed to a fatal accident. At 745 p.m. EDT a 23-year-old male died when he lost control of his vehicle driving through a patch of standing water. The vehicle ran off the road and overturned. Rainfall amounts although heavy, were considerably less in the rest of Delaware. Storm totals included 2.51 inches in Newark and 2.31 inches at the New Castle County Airport and 1.4 inches in Salisbury Maryland.