A strong cold front that coincided with daytime heating produced two lines of severe thunderstorms across Delaware during the afternoon and early evening of the 16th.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
A strong cold front that coincided with daytime heating produced two lines of severe thunderstorms across Delaware during the afternoon and early evening of the 16th.
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 May 16, 3:17 PM EST, 18 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
417 PM EDT WED MAY 16 2007
.SYNOPSIS...
A STRONG COLD FRONT, BRINGING WIDESPREAD THUNDERSTORMS, WILL
CONTINUE TO CROSS THE REGION INTO THIS EVENING AND FINALLY
STALLING OFFSHORE EARLY THURSDAY. A LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE UP FROM
THE SOUTH AND RIDE ALONG THE STALLED FRONT BRINGING ANOTHER BOUT
OF RAIN AND SHOWERS ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. ANOTHER COLD FRONT IS
EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE REGION ON SUNDAY INTO MONDAY
FOLLOWED BY HIGH PRESSURE FOR MIDWEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 8 PM THIS EVENING/...
A THUNDERSTORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR THE ENTIRE REGION UNTIL 8 PM THIS
EVENING.
CURRENT RADAR IMAGES INDICATE THAT THE STORMS EXTENDING ON A LINE
FROM SOUTHERN MA SOUTHWESTWARD INTO CENTRAL VA ARE STARTING TO
FIRE UP AND IMPACT THE REGION. AIR TEMPS IN THE 80S THROUGHOUT
MOST OF THE CWA TODAY WILL DROP OFF RAPIDLY AS RAIN MOVES THROUGH
AND ONCE THE FRONT PASSES. A GUST FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN
NJ THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE REACHING THE OCEAN/BURLINGTON COUNTY LINE
EARLY THIS EVENING AND POSSIBLY AFFECTING THE WILDFIRE SITUATION
THERE.
&&
.SHORT TERM /8 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
THUNDERSTORMS WILL START TO DIE OFF AS THE EVENING MOVES ON. THE
FRONT WILL MOVE OFFSHORE BY EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. WINDS WILL
START TO SUBSIDE AFTER MIDNIGHT AND THE SKIES WILL ALSO BEGIN TO
CLEAR BEFORE THE CLOUDS START TO RETURN ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON.
AFTER THE FRONT MOVES THROUGH THE TEMPS WILL COOL DOWN
CONSIDERABLY, AS MOST AREAS WILL SEE HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S
ON THURSDAY.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
THE MODELS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT FRIDAY THROUGH EARLY
SUNDAY WILL REMAIN ON THE WETTER SIDE. FROM MOST OF SUNDAY THROUGH
WEDNESDAY, DRIER CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY EXPECTED. HOWEVER, THIS
IS ABOUT ALL THEY AGREE ON. WITH THE LACK OF MODEL AGREEMENT AND
VERY ACTIVE SHORT TERM TODAY, MADE ONLY NECESSARY CHANGES AND
STAYED ALONG THE LINES OF HPC GUIDANCE.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
HIGHLY VARIABLE CONDITIONS COVER THE REGION. OVER THE NW PART OF THE
AREA, TSTMS HAVE MOVED IN FROM THE WEST AND IFR CONDITIONS HAVE BEEN
OBS IN THE TSTMS WITH WIND GUSTS UP TO 40. TO THE SE, VFR CONDITIONS
PREVAILED. THE TSTMS WILL CONTINUE HEADING S/E THROUGH THE EVENING
AND SHOULD BE OFF THE COAST BY 00Z. ANY AREA THAT GETS TSTMS WILL
PROBABLY SEE IFR CONDITIONS FOR AN HR OR TWO. THEN SHOWERS SHOULD
CONTINUE TO 00-03Z AS COOLER AIR ARRIVES.
A SEVERE TSTM WATCH IS IN EFFECT TIL 8 PM AND SOME OF THE WINDS COULD
GUST OVER 50 KT IN THE STRONGEST STORMS.
BY MIDNIGHT, CONDITIONS SHOULD BECOME VFR AT ALL SITES AS DRIER AIR
MOVES IN FROM THE WEST.
LONGER RANGE, SCATTERED SHOWERS MAY OCCUR THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRI
NIGHT.
&&
.MARINE...
SCA CONDITIONS CONTINUE ON THE OCEAN THROUGH TONIGHT, BUT EXPIRE ON
DEL BAY AT 8 PM. THE SW WINDS WILL DIMINISH RAPIDLY THROUGH THE
EVENING. HOWEVER, 4-6 FT SEAS SHOULD CONTINUE ON THE OCEAN TONIGHT.
THE COLD FRONT THIS EVENING COULD TRIGGER SVR TSTMS AS IT CROSSES
THE REGION. THE GUSTY SW WINDS WILL SHIFT TO NW AND THEN N LATE
TONIGHT. LOW PRESSURE IS FORECAST TO FORM OFF THE SE COAST THU NIGHT
AND THEN HEAD NE TO COASTAL NEW ENGLAND THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS
LOW WILL CAUSE N TO NE WINDS OVER THE REGION AS IT MOVES BY WITH SCA
CONDITIONS AGAIN EXPECTED TO DEVELOP.
WINDS SHOULD AGAIN DIMINISH FOR THE WEEKEND AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILD
IN, BUT 4-6 FT SEAS WILL PROBABLY CONTINUE ON THE OCEAN SAT BEFORE
SUBSIDING SUNDAY.
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
SHOWERS AND TSTMS THIS AFTERNOON SHOULD BE WIDESPREAD. THIS SHOULD
HELP WET THE GROUND AND FUELS IN MOST AREAS. IF THE RAINS MISS THE
FIRE IN OCEAN COUNTY, SOUTHERN NJ, FIRE FIGHTING EFFORTS SHOULD BE
HELPED BY COOLING TEMPERATURES AND INCREASED HUMIDITIES LATER
TONIGHT AND THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. ON THURSDAY, MINIMUM HUMIDITIES
SHOULD STAY ABOVE 45 PERCENT THROUGH THE DAY.
&&
.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...NONE.
NJ...NONE.
DE...NONE.
MD...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 11 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR ANZ450>455.
SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ANZ430-
431.
&&
SYNOPSIS/NEAR TERM/SHORT TERM/LONG TERM...VM
AVIATION/MARINE/FIRE WEATHER...RNSHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...CORRECTED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 431 AM EDT WED MAY 16 2007 DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ001-007>010-012>027-PAZ054-055- 060>062-067>071-170845- 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- 431 AM EDT WED MAY 16 2007 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL DELAWARE...NORTHERN DELAWARE...SOUTHERN DELAWARE...EASTERN MARYLAND...NORTHEAST MARYLAND...CENTRAL NEW JERSEY...NORTHERN NEW JERSEY...SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY...EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS MOST OF THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. A COLD FRONT CURRENTLY MOVING INTO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA WILL MOVE EASTWARD TODAY. THIS FRONT WILL REACH OUR AREA THIS AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ALONG AND IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT. THERE IS DECENT MOISTURE AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND SUFFICIENT INSTABILITY. A LINEAR TYPE THUNDERSTORM EVENT IS POSSIBLE WITH THE BIGGEST THREATS BEING STRONG GUSTY WINDS AND SMALL HAIL. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS SHOULD END DURING THE EVENING WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT AND THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING. STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS OR YOUR FAVORITE MEDIA SOURCE FOR ANY POTENTIAL WATCHES AND WARNING AND FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE NEEDED THIS AFTERNOON OR EVENING. ANZ450>455-170845- 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- 431 AM EDT WED MAY 16 2007 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EDT THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING ON THE OCEAN. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ADDITIONAL SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED, ESPECIALLY FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ430-431-170845- DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE- DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE- 431 AM EDT WED MAY 16 2007 ...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ADDITIONAL SMALL CRAFT ADVISORIES MAY BE NEEDED, ESPECIALLY FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME.
The Dover AFB radar (KDOX), 108 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 20:34 UTC.
5 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
A severe thunderstorm tore down large tree limbs and wires across the northern tier of New Castle County.
A second severe thunderstorm pulled down large tree limbs and wires in and around Christina Hundred. One woman and her son were trapped in her vehicle after wires were knocked down onto Kirkwood Highway. The combination of the severe thunderstorms caused about 5000 homes and businesses to lose power in New Castle County.
A severe thunderstorm knocked down a few trees in Kenton.
A severe thunderstorm knocked down a few large tree limbs and wires in Milford.
A severe thunderstorm knocked down a few wires and large tree limbs in Milford.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Delaware in 2007Every state in 2007This day in weather historyWarnings in Delaware, May 2007
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: 22086, 22087, 34639, 34640, 34641.