Flash Flood and Flood in Delaware, June 25 to 26, 2006

Name: Flash Flood and Flood in Delaware, June 25 to 26, 2006
Start: 2006-06-25T06:45
End: 2006-06-26T02:00
Location: Delaware

June 25 to 26, 2006 · NWS PHI · 2 events in 1 county or zone

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 2 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: $1.0 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 2

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.

Repeating thunderstorms with torrential downpours dropped a Doppler Radar estimated six to eight inches of rain across southwestern parts of Sussex County during the morning of the 25th. This caused extensive roadway, field and stream flooding. Hardest hit was the Seaford and Blades area where every major roadway was flooded and closed, shopping mall parking lots became lakes. Evacuations of homes and a long term care facility occurred. No serious injuries were reported. The flooding caused the Nanticoke River to exceed its banks the night of the 25th. The Nanticoke River at Bridgeville was above its 8 foot flood stage from 1045 p.m. EDT on the 25th through 300 a.m. EDT on the 26th. It crested at 8.04 feet at Midnight EDT on the 26th. The torrential rains led to over 300 people being activated, nearly 200 water rescues from stranded vehicles and up to 40 roads were closed. Every fire fighter in Sussex County was assisting in rescue operations. In Seaford over 100 senior citizens were evacuated from Lifecare at Lofland Park Nursing Home because of concerns about the Williams Pond Spillway. The returned on the 26th. The Hearns Pond Dam was also damaged. The Sussex Plaza was flooded including the local Wal-Mart and several car dealerships. Just west of Seaford, the Craig's Pond Dam failed and damaged one road. Chapel Branch flooding reached 10 feet. Three sections of railroad rails and ties hung in suspension by the new gorge created by the flood waters. One sink hole was 30 feet by 30 feet. The dam failure damaged a largemouth bass fishery. In Blades, three mobile home parks were evacuated: Mobile Garden, Holly View and Hastings Estate. A Red Cross shelter was opened for Seaford and Blades evacuees at the Woodbridge High School. Businesses at the Georgetown Shopping Center were flooded also. It did not reopen until the 27th. Flooding rains also fell farther east as flooding reached homes and the wastewater treatment plant in Lewes. Roadways took a beating in and around Seaford as eleven roads and five bridges were damaged and closed. This included Delaware State Routes 13A, 18 and 20. Storm totals included 8.57 inches in Georgetown, 7.32 inches in Bridgeville, 6.30 inches in Redden and 5.86 inches in Lewes.

What forecasters said that day

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 Jun 25, 4:00 AM EST, 2 hours 45 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Jun 25, 4:00 AM EST, 2 hours 45 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
500 AM EDT SUN JUN 25 2006

.SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
AT 5:00 AM, HEAVY RAIN WAS FALLING IN SOUTHERN DELAWARE AND EXTREME
SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY.  RAINFALL RATES OF AN INCH OR TWO PER HOUR WERE
INDICATED BY RADAR.

IN LIGHT OF THE ACTIVITY MENTIONED ABOVE, WEVE EXTENDED THE FLASH
FLOOD WATCH UNTIL NOON FOR THE DELMARVA (SOUTH OF THE CANAL) AND FOR
COASTAL NEW JERSEY.  BY THAT TIME, THE AXIS OF HEAVIEST RAIN SHOULD
HAVE SHIFTED BACK TO THE NORTH.

FOR THE REMAINDER OF OUR FORECAST AREA, WEVE EXTENDED THE FLASH
FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 11:00 PM.  IT CONTINUES TO APPEAR AS THOUGH THE
FOCUS FOR THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL DRIFT BACK UP INTO EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW JERSEY AS THE DAY
PROGRESSES.

THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO DRIFT FAR ENOUGH TO OUR NORTH
AND WEST FOR MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT TO ALLOW US TO LOWER OUR POPS
INTO THE CHANCE CATEGORY THROUGHOUT OUR FORECAST AREA FOR THAT TIME
PERIOD.

THE REMNANTS OF THE SYSTEM AROUND FLORIDA EARLY THIS MORNING MAY BE
DRAWN NORTHWARD IN THE UPPER FLOW AND UP OVER OUR REGION LATE ON
TUESDAY.  AS A RESULT, WEVE INCREASED OUR POPS BACK UP TO LIKELY
FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

&&

.LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THE UPPER PATTERN DIGS IN FOR THE LONG HAUL ONLY EXTENDING THE
CHANCES FOR MORE RAIN.  THE BERMUDA HIGH STRENGTHENS OVER THE
WESTERN ATLANTIC WHILE MORE HEIGHT FALLS COMING DOWN FROM CANADA
ONLY SERVE TO REINFORCE THE EASTERN TROUGH.  THE SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST
FLOW ALOFT WILL THROW MOISTURE LADEN TROPICAL AND SUBTROPICAL
DISTURBANCES ACROSS THE REGION.

THE SFC FRONT WILL DRIFT BACK TOWARDS THE REGION AND WILL CREATE
DAILY CHC FOR SHOWERS AND AFTERNOON THUNDER...MUCH LIKE THE SHORT
TERM. TEMPS OVER THE PERIOD WILL NOT FEATURE TOO MANY SWINGS AWAY
FROM CLIMATOLOGY WITH ABUNDANT CLOUD COVER EXPECTED. HIGHS WILL
OCCUR DURING BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS DURING THE DAY AND OVERNIGHT MINS
WILL NOT DROP VERY MUCH UNDER THE MUGGY CONDITIONS.

&&

.AVIATION...
IFR CONDITIONS ARE PRETTY MUCH THE NORM EARLY THIS MORNING, EITHER
BEING CAUSED BY ONGOING MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN OR THE REMNANTS OF.
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE JUST SLIGHTLY AFTER DAYBREAK.
THE MAIN BAND OF SHOWERS NOW HITTING OUR SOUTHEAST TERMINALS WILL
SHIFT TO THE WEST LATER TODAY.  AS THIS TRANSITION OCCURS WE SHOULD
SEE THINGS EASE UP TO THE MVFR RANGE.  CEILINGS AND VSBYS ARE
EXPECTED TO DROP ONCE AGAIN TONIGHT.

&&

.MARINE...
WE WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW CURRENT TRENDS AND UNDERCUT WAVEWATCH
GUIDANCE.  WINDS AND SEAS ARE EXPECTED TO STAY BELOW SCA CRITERIA
THROUGH TONIGHT.  HOWEVER, THERE IS SOME CONCERN THAT THE CONTINUING
SOUTHERLY FLOW AND ITS LONG FETCH WILL EVENTUALLY INCREASE SEAS TO 5
FT ON MONDAY.

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071 UNTIL 11 PM
     SUNDAY.
NJ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>019 UNTIL 11
     PM SUNDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR NJZ014-020>027 UNTIL NOON SUNDAY.
DE...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR DEZ001 UNTIL 11 PM SUNDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR DEZ002>004 UNTIL NOON SUNDAY.
MD...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MDZ008 UNTIL 11 PM SUNDAY.
  ...FLASH FLOOD WATCH FOR MDZ012-015-019-020 UNTIL NOON SUNDAY.
MARINE...NONE.

&&

SHORT TERM...IOVINO
LONG TERM...OHARA
AVIATION/MARINE...KRUZDLO

Hazardous weather outlook, Jun 25, 5:00 AM EST, 1 hour 45 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
600 AM EDT SUN JUN 25 2006

ANZ430-431-450>455-470-DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-
007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055-060>062-067>071-261000-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE EGG INLET TO GREAT EGG INLET NJ OUT
20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM GREAT EGG INLET TO CAPE MAY NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE MAY NJ TO CAPE HENLOPEN DE OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE HENLOPEN TO FENWICK ISLAND DE OUT 20 NM-
WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK NJ TO FENWICK ISLAND DE FROM 20 TO 40 NM-
NEW CASTLE-KENT DE-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD-
QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-
SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-
GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-
ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL ATLANTIC-
COASTAL OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-CARBON-MONROE-BERKS-LEHIGH-
NORTHAMPTON-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-
600 AM EDT SUN JUN 25 2006

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR PORTIONS OF EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA, DELAWARE, THE NORTHERN MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE AND
NEW JERSEY, EXCLUDING THE FIVE NORTHEAST COUNTIES.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR TODAY.

THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF RIP CURRENTS ALONG THE NEW JERSEY COAST
TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY

VERY HUMID AND UNSTABLE AIR WILL REMAIN OVER THE REGION THROUGH
THE NEW WEEK WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EACH
DAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BECOME NECESSARY.

In the hours before

Local storm report, Jun 25, 5:32 AM EST, 1 hour 13 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
632 AM EDT SUN JUN 25 2006

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0410 PM     FLASH FLOOD      HORSHAM                 40.18N 75.14W
06/24/2006                   MONTGOMERY         PA   NWS EMPLOYEE

            STREET FLOODING AND SMALL STREAM OUT OF ITS BANKS.

0415 PM     FLASH FLOOD      5 SE COATESVILLE        39.93N 75.75W
06/24/2006                   CHESTER            PA   CO-OP OBSERVER

            ROADS CLOSED WITH ONGOING RESCUES. 5 INCHES OF RAIN IN 1
            HOUR 40 MINUTES.

0430 PM     LIGHTNING        CLINTON                 40.64N 74.91W
06/24/2006                   HUNTERDON          NJ   EMERGENCY MNGR

            *** 1 FATAL *** MAN KILLED BY LIGHTNING AT ROUND VALLEY
            RECREATION AREA.

0621 PM     FLASH FLOOD      3 N PITMAN              39.78N 75.13W
06/24/2006                   GLOUCESTER         NJ   TRAINED SPOTTER

            ROAD FLOODING IN SEWELL.

0700 PM     FLASH FLOOD      4 W BELMAR              40.18N 74.10W
06/24/2006                   MONMOUTH           NJ   EMERGENCY MNGR

            FLOODING AT JUNCTION OF STATE HIGHWAYS 34 AND 138.

0105 AM     FLASH FLOOD      SUDLERSVILLE            39.19N 75.86W
06/25/2006                   QUEEN ANNES       MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

            STATE HIGHWAY 300 FLOODED BETWEEN SUDLERSVILLE AND THE
            DELAWARE STATE LINE.

0300 AM     FLASH FLOOD      EASTON                  38.77N 76.07W
06/25/2006                   TALBOT             MD   EMERGENCY MNGR

            ROADWAY FLOODING IN EASTON AND TRAPPE.

&&

IOVINO

The radar

The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 18 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 11:46 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 flash flood, 1 flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Sussex

When: June 25, 6:45 AM EST to 5:00 PM EST
Where: Sussex County, Southwest Portion
Property damage: $1.0 million
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 38.683, -75.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flood, Sussex

When: June 25, 5:00 PM EST to June 26, 2:00 AM EST
Where: Sussex County, Bridgeville
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 38.683, -75.339 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Flood: Flooding that develops more slowly than a flash flood: rivers leaving their banks, or water standing over land for an extended time.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Delaware in 2006 Every state in 2006 This day in weather history Warnings in Delaware, June 2006

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: 5518395, 5518396.