Delaware, 1999

High Wind and Strong Wind in Delaware, January 3, 1999

January 3, 1999 · NWS PHI · 4 events in 4 counties and zones

On the evening of the 2nd, as one low pressure system headed into the Great Lakes, a second low pressure system formed along its frontal boundary along the coastal plains of the South Atlantic States. This second low increased the pressure gradient (or surface pressure difference between it and a strong high pressure system over the Canadian Maritimes) along and near the coast around daybreak of…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
None recorded
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
4

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.

On the evening of the 2nd, as one low pressure system headed into the Great Lakes, a second low pressure system formed along its frontal boundary along the coastal plains of the South Atlantic States. This second low increased the pressure gradient (or surface pressure difference between it and a strong high pressure system over the Canadian Maritimes) along and near the coast around daybreak of the 3rd. As the low passed through New Jersey during the morning of the 3rd, winds became lighter. Peak wind gusts in most areas were between 40 and 45 mph. The peak gust reached 61 mph at the New Castle County Airport. Within Wilmington, one car was crushed by a fallen tree.

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 strong wind, 1 high wind. Local standard time, as filed.

High Wind, New Castle

When
January 3, 5:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
New Castle forecast zone
Measured
53 kt (61 mph)
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.578, -75.639 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Delaware Beaches

When
January 3, 5:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Delaware Beaches forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.683, -75.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Inland Sussex

When
January 3, 5:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Inland Sussex forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
38.683, -75.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Strong Wind, Kent

When
January 3, 5:00 AM EST to 8:00 AM EST
Where
Kent forecast zone
Reported by
AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC
Coordinates
39.096, -75.505 (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.
Strong Wind
Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.

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

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Delaware in 1999Every state in 1999This day in weather historyWarnings in Delaware, January 1999

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: 5684496, 5684497, 5684498, 5684499.