Coastal Flood in Delaware, February 17 to 18, 1998

A low pressure system moved from coastal North Carolina the morning of the 17th to about 150 miles east of Manasquan Inlet, New Jersey the morning of the 18th. A strong high pressure system was anchored over Maine and the Canadian Maritimes at the same time. The difference in surface pressure between them produced strong gusty winds mainly during the afternoon of the 17th. This also prevented the tide from receding during the low tide cycle around 6 p.m. EST. Winds diminished by the time of the late evening/early morning high tide on the 17th and 18th, but the onshore flow helped produce some minor tidal flooding. The onshore winds lasted only one tide cycle and the astronomical tides were low. Thus, in spite of tidal departures of about 3 feet above normal, tidal flooding was only at the low end of the minor range. No serious damage was reported.