Remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Henri produced copious amounts of rain during the early morning of the 15th across northern New Castle County and hit Mill Creek Hundred in the northwest part of the county the hardest. Thunderstorms with torrential downpours moved from south to north across the same areas and produced one to ten inches of rain across the region with the heaviest amounts…
Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.
Remnant moisture from Tropical Storm Henri produced copious amounts of rain during the early morning of the 15th across northern New Castle County and hit Mill Creek Hundred in the northwest part of the county the hardest. Thunderstorms with torrential downpours moved from south to north across the same areas and produced one to ten inches of rain across the region with the heaviest amounts around Hockessin. The worst flood damage occurred in the Glenville area of Mill Creek Hundred where 194 homes suffered flood damage. Numerous people were rescued from trapped vehicles. People were rescued from their flooded homes, including one person who was rescued from his roof by helicopter. In the Glenville area, residents were evacuated to Brandywine Springs Elementary School. Near Hockessin, most of the historic Wooddale Covered Bridge was washed away by the Red Clay Creek. Near Prices Corner, chemicals stored at the Ametek Chemical building were washed away into the flood waters. The Red Clay Creek at Wooddale had the highest recorded crest on record when it crested at 17.27 feet at 1230 p.m. EDT on the 15th. Flood stage is 5.5 feet. The creek was above flood stage from 643 a.m. EDT on the 15th through 1134 p.m. EDT on the 16th. Farther downstream at Stanton, the creek rose above the gage house. The White Clay Creek at Delaware Park had its 4th highest crest of record when it crested at 16.78 feet at 345 p.m. EDT on the 15th. Flood stage is 13 feet. The creek was above its flood stage from 650 a.m. EDT through 1044 p.m. EDT on the 15th. The Christina River at Coochs Bridge was above its 9 foot flood stage from 757 a.m. EDT through 455 p.m. EDT on the 15th. It crested at 11.57 feet at 130 p.m. EDT. The Brandywine Creek at Wilmington was above its 11 foot flood stage from 408 p.m. EDT on the 15th through 207 a.m. EDT on the 16th. It crested at 12.73 feet at 845 p.m. EDT on the 15th. Storm totals included 9.02 inches in Hockessin and 5.00 inches in Yorklyn.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Sep 15, 1:42 AM EST, 4 hours 1 minute earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 242 AM EDT MON SEP 15 2003 TROPICAL AIRMASS REMAINS IN PLACE INTO EARLY TNGT...THEN A COLD FRONT DROPS DOWN FROM THE NW FOLLOWED BY HIGH PRESSURE THAT WILL ALLOW THE HUMIDITY TO DECREASE. WITH AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT SHOULD BE SHOWERS AND SCATTERED TSTMS. BEHIND IT...CLEARING. MAIN CONCERN THIS FCST IS FROM THU INTO FRI NIGHT WHEN POWERFUL HURRICANE ISABEL THREATENS. IF THE STORM TRACKS CLOSE OR OVER THE FORECAST AREA...THE WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HURRICANE COULD BE STRONGER THAN MANY OF US HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. THIS STORM SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY IN ADDITION...THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR VERY HEAVY RAINS DEPENDING ON THE TRACK, SO HYDROLOGY IS ALSO A CONCERN. USERS OF EXPERIMENTAL FORECAST GRIDS...BE AWARE THAT POLICY LIMITS MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND STRENGTH TO 33 KTS OUT PAST THE 72 HOUR FORECAST. THIS IS TO REFLECT THE INHERENT UNCERTAINTY IN THE HURRICANE FORECAST TRACK AT GREATER TIME RANGES. REFER TO NHC FOR THE OFFICIAL TRACK AND STRENGTH OF THE STORM. POP QUIZ...WHEN WAS THE LAST OFFICIAL LANDFALLING HURRICANE IN NEW JERSEY? SEPTEMBER 16TH IN 1903. THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY IS TOMORROW...COINCIDENCE?. NOW IS THE TIME WHERE BEING PREPARED PAYS OFF. KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST FORECASTS. CHECK OUR WEB SITE...WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/PHI FOR THE LATEST FORECAST INFORMATION...AS WELL AS PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION IF THE HURRICANE THREATENS YOUR LOCATION. ON THE COAST WE WILL CARRY SCA DUE TO SEAS. ALSO THERE IS A HIGH RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS. FCSTID = 9 MPO 71 55 73 54 / 70 30 10 10 ABE 78 63 78 57 / 70 40 10 10 RDG 78 63 78 58 / 70 40 10 10 PHL 81 66 81 63 / 60 40 0 0 12N 75 59 76 57 / 70 40 10 10 SMQ 78 67 79 62 / 60 50 0 0 TTN 79 66 80 63 / 60 50 0 0 MIV 80 66 79 66 / 60 50 0 0 ACY 78 67 80 69 / 60 50 0 0 ILG 81 65 80 62 / 60 40 0 0 DOV 81 66 80 65 / 50 40 0 0 GED 81 67 80 67 / 50 40 0 0 ESN 81 66 80 64 / 50 40 0 0 .PHI... DE...NONE. MD...NONE. NJ...NONE. PA...NONE. MARINE...SCA ALONG THE COAST. RNS
DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055- 060>062-067>071-151100- HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK - CORRECTION FOR RIP CURRENTS NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 414 AM EDT MON SEP 15 2003 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA...DELAWARE...THE NORTHERN MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE...AND NEW JERSEY EXCLUDING THE FIVE NORTHEAST COUNTIES. .DAY ONE...TODAY THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE COAST. SHOWERS ARE LIKELY TODAY ALONG WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS. SOME RAIN COULD BE HEAVY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY RIP CURRENTS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH MOST OF THE PERIOD. THE MAIN THREAT WILL BE FROM POWERFUL HURRICANE ISABEL. THE FORECASTED TRACK FOR ISABEL HAS IT AFFECTING THE REGION THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. SEE THE LATEST ADVISORY FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055- 060>062-067>071-152100- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 416 AM EDT MON SEP 15 2003 ...A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW YOUR FAMILY DISASTER PLAN... AS MAJOR HURRICANE ISABEL CONTINUES TO MOVE WEST NORTHWEST TOWARD THE EAST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES...NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO REVIEW AND UPDATE YOUR FAMILY DISASTER PLAN. PART OF YOUR FAMILY DISASTER PLAN SHOULD BE PREPARING IN CASE A HURRICANE THREATENS YOUR AREA. SOME ACTIVITIES WHICH YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO COMPLETE INCLUDE KNOWING THE HURRICANE RISKS IN YOUR AREA SUCH AS WHETHER YOU LIVE IN A POTENTIAL FLOOD ZONE...LEARNING SAFE ROUTES INLAND FROM COASTAL AREAS...FINDING OUT WHERE OFFICIAL SHELTERS ARE LOCATED...TRIMMING TREES AND SHRUBBERY...CLEARING LOOSE AND CLOGGED RAIN SPOUTS AND GUTTERS...AND DETERMINING WHERE TO MOVE YOUR BOAT IN AN EMERGENCY. ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF YOUR FAMILY DISASTER PLAN IS THE PREPARATION OF A DISASTER SUPPLIES KIT. THIS KIT SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING MATERIALS...A THREE DAY SUPPLY OF WATER WITH ONE GALLON PER PERSON PER DAY...FOOD THAT WILL NOT SPOIL...ONE CHANGE OF CLOTHING AND SHOES PER PERSON...PRESCRIPTION MEDICINES...ONE BLANKET OR SLEEPING BAG PER PERSON...A FIRST AID KIT...A BATTERY POWERED NOAA WEATHER RADIO AND A PORTABLE RADIO...EMERGENCY TOOLS...A FLASHLIGHT WITH EXTRA BATTERIES...AN EXTRA SET OF CAR KEYS...AND ANY SPECIAL ITEMS FOR INFANT...ELDERLY OR DISABLED FAMILY MEMBERS. IF YOU HAVE A SECOND RESIDENCE NEAR THE COAST...WE RECOMMEND YOU TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY EARLY THIS WEEK TO INSURE THAT LOOSE OBJECTS ARE PACKED AWAY...AND YOUR RESIDENCE IS SECURE. STAY TUNED OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS ON THE EXPECTED PATH OF HURRICANE ISABEL. BE PREPARED TO TAKE ADDITIONAL ACTION IF A HURRICANE WATCH IS ISSUED FOR THE AREA. A WATCH IS ISSUED WHEN THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR HURRICANE CONDITIONS IN YOUR AREA WITHIN 36 HOURS. REMEMBER THAT STRONG DAMAGING WINDS AND TORRENTIAL RAINFALL CAN EXTEND WELL INLAND WITH A MAJOR HURRICANE. MORE PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON OUR WEB SITE AT WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/PHI CHECK OUT THE MENU SELECTION ENTITLED PREPAREDNESS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE. AND PLEASE SEE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET SOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL HURRICANE POTENTIAL INFORMATION AND PREPAREDNESS ISSUES... NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER HOME PAGE: HTTP://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV PENNSYLVANIA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: HTTP://PEMA.STATE.PA.US MARYLAND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: HTTP://WWW.MEMA.STATE.MD.US NEW JERSEY OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: HTTP://WWW.STATE.NJ.US/NJOEM DELAWARE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY: HTTP://WWW.STATE.DE.US/DEMA FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY HOME PAGE: HTTP://WWW.FEMA.GOV/HAZARDS/HURRICANES AMERICAN RED CROSS HOME PAGE: HTTP://WWW.RED CROSS.ORG
DEZ001-PAZ054-055-060-061-067-068-151230- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 541 AM EDT MON SEP 15 2003 ...HEAVY RAINS WERE TRAINING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH THROUGH EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA EARLY THIS MORNING... A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS PERCHED FROM NORTHERN DELAWARE NORTHWARD TO THE POCONOS OF PENNSYLVANIA THIS MORNING. THE HEAVIEST RAINS HAVE BEEN OVER CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...WHERE RADAR HAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 2 AND 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. THIS BAND OF RAIN IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SLIGHTLY TO THE NORTHWEST AS WELL AS TAPER OFF DURING THE NEXT 2 OR 3 HOURS...BUT UNTIL THEN WATCH FOR PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND IN LOW SPOTS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FOR ANY UPDATES. WEATHER INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/PHI.
DEZ001-PAZ054-055-060-061-067-068-151230- SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 540M EDT MON SEP 15 2003 ...HEAVY RAINS WERE TRAINING FROM SOUTH TO NORTH THROUGH EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA EARLY THIS MORNING... A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WAS PERCHED FROM NORTHERN DELAWARE NORTHWARD TO THE POCONOS OF PENNSYLVANIA THIS MORNING. THE HEAVIEST RAINS HAVE BEEN OVER CHESTER COUNTY IN SOUTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA...WHERE RADAR HAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 2 AND 2.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN A COUPLE OF HOURS. THIS BAND OF RAIN IS EXPECTED TO MOVE SLIGHTLY TO THE NORTHWEST AS WELL AS TAPER OFF DURING THE NEXT 2 OR 3 HOURS...BUT UNTIL THEN WATCH FOR PONDING OF WATER ON ROADS AND IN LOW SPOTS. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR OTHER MEDIA OUTLETS FOR ANY UPDATES. WEATHER INFORMATION IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.ERH.NOAA.GOV/PHI.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
1 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Delaware in 2003Every state in 2003This day in weather historyWarnings in Delaware, September 2003
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: 5371967.