Heavy Rain in Delaware, January 23, 1998

Name: Heavy Rain in Delaware, January 23, 1998
Start: 1998-01-23T09:00
End: 1998-01-23T23:00
Location: Delaware

January 23, 1998 · NWS PHI · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

A low pressure system moved into the Ohio Valley the morning of the 23rd. A series of weak secondary low pressure systems developed along this primary low's cold front.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 3 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

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.

A low pressure system moved into the Ohio Valley the morning of the 23rd. A series of weak secondary low pressure systems developed along this primary low's cold front. Not only did this prolong the rain through the evening of the 23rd, but also helped it fall heavy at times especially during the afternoon on the 23rd. Storm totals averaged between 1.25 inches and 2.50 inches across Delaware with the highest amounts in the northern part of the state. This caused the usual poor drainage flooding in low-lying areas. In New Castle County, ponding of water on underpasses on U.S. Routes 13 and 40 caused back-ups during the evening commute. Storm totals included 2.77 inches in Wilmington, 2.51 inches at the New Castle County Airport, 1.86 inches in Dover and 1.24 inches in Georgetown.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 heavy rain. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Rain, Kent

When: January 23, 9:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Kent County, Countywide
Coordinates: 39.096, -75.505 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, New Castle

When: January 23, 9:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: New Castle County, Countywide
Coordinates: 39.578, -75.639 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Heavy Rain, Sussex

When: January 23, 9:00 AM EST to 11:00 PM EST
Where: Sussex County, Countywide
Coordinates: 38.683, -75.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Rain: Rainfall totals unusual for the place and season that did not produce a flood.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Delaware in 1998 Every state in 1998 This day in weather history Warnings in Delaware, January 1998

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: 5630473, 5630474, 5630475.