Gusty northwest winds followed a cold frontal passage from mid morning into early evening on the 8th across Delaware. Peak wind gusts averaged around 45 mph and tore down weak tree limbs and wires.
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.
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.
Gusty northwest winds followed a cold frontal passage from mid morning into early evening on the 8th across Delaware. Peak wind gusts averaged around 45 mph and tore down weak tree limbs and wires. Most of the highest wind gusts occurred near or along Delaware Bay. Peak wind gusts included 49 mph at Breakwater Harbor (Sussex County), 46 mph in Dover (Kent County) and 44 mph at the New Castle County Airport.
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 Feb 8, 8:25 AM EST, 35 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
825 AM EST TUE FEB 8 2011
.SYNOPSIS...
INTENSIFYING LOW PRESSURE WAS LOCATED WELL OFF CAPE COD THIS
MORNING. THE SYSTEM WILL RACE TO THE NORTHEAST, PASSING ACROSS THE
WATERS OFF NOVA SCOTIA AND NEWFOUNDLAND TODAY. COLD HIGH PRESSURE
FROM THE WEST WILL BUILD INTO OUR REGION FOR WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY
AND FRIDAY. THE HIGH WILL MODIFY A BIT OVER THE WEEKEND AS ITS
CENTER MOVES ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
AT 800 AM, THE STEADY PRECIPITATION HAD LIFTED TO OUR NORTHEAST.
STRONG COLD ADVECTION WILL TAKE PLACE THROUGH THE DAY WITH A
GUSTY NORTHWEST WIND. IT CONTINUES TO APPEAR AS THOUGH WE WILL SEE
SOME GUSTS APPROACHING 45 MPH IN OUR REGION. AS A RESULT, THE WIND
ADVISORY WILL BE LEFT IN PLACE.
ALSO IN THE STRONG COLD ADVECTION, SCATTERED TO ISOLATED SNOW
SHOWERS ARE ANTICIPATED FOR OUR NORTHERN COUNTIES. THERE COULD BE
ISOLATED BURSTS OF SNOW THAT MAY LEAVE A QUICK COATING AT SOME
LOCATIONS.
THE MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR THE DAY HAVE BEEN REACHED AT MOST
SPOTS. READINGS SHOULD REMAIN STEADY OR FALL SLOWLY.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...
TONIGHT... DECIDEDLY ON THE COLD DRY SIDE WITH THE NW WIND
BLOWING WELL INTO THE LATE EVENING. BLENDED GFS/ECMWF MOS/2M TEMPS
FOR THE FORECAST LOWS.
WEDNESDAY...CONTINUITY LOOKED VERY GOOD WITH A MIX OF SUN AND
CLOUDS. WINDS NOT AS GUSTY AND SOME TEMPORARY RECOVERY AS IT
APPEARS WE HAVE A SORT OF WEAK COOL FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE
WEST AND A BIT OF WEAK WAA AHEAD OF ITS EVENING ARRIVAL.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT...N CAROLINA COASTAL LOW PRESSURE WITH THE
DEFORMATION ZONE MID AND HIGH CLOUDS MAY KEEP TEMPS FROM FALLING
TOO MUCH.
BLENDED 21Z/7 SREF POPS WITH THE WETTER 00Z/8 NAM POPS. UKMET HAS
QPF INTO S DEL. JUST TOO CLOSE TO IGNORE. IN ANY CASE...IF ANY
SNOW DOES OCCUR /LOTS OF DRY AIR IN THE LOWER LAYERS TO OVERCOME/
IT SHOULD BE BRIEF AND OR LIGHT AND ON ITS WAY OUT TO SEA BY
SUNRISE THURSDAY.
THURSDAY...COLDEST DAY OF THE NEXT SEVERAL... AND 00Z/8 GFS MEX
/00Z/8 ECMWF 2M TEMPS AGREE. WE SHOULD HAVE SOME SUNSHINE THOUGH.
THURSDAY NIGHT...MIGHT BE THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE WEEK WITH
RADIATIONAL COOLING ANTICIPATED OVER THE NE PA NW NJ SNOW PACK.
LOWERED TEMPS A BIT IN RESPONSE TO 00Z/8 GFS/ECMWF MEX/2M TEMP
GUIDANCE.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
IN A TREND WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT MUCH THIS WINTER SEASON...THE
LONG TERM FORECAST PERIOD HAS GENERALLY SHIFTED TOWARD A MORE
BENIGN PATTERN. TEMPERATURES SHOULD EVENTUALLY TREND TOWARD OR
ABOVE SEASONAL NORMS BY THE END OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD. 00Z/8 GFS
OP RUN THREW IN A WRINKLE AND WHILE THE 00Z/8 ECMWF DIDNT GRAB
ONTO THIS NEARLY AS MUCH...WE COULD HAVE A SLIGHTLY COLDER
SCENARIO FOR SATURDAY. EVENTUALLY THO..THE GFS/ECMWF AGREE THAT
SUNDAY AND NEXT MONDAY WARMUP. WILL IT BE SUSTAINED NEXT WEEK???
IN TERMS OF PRECIPITATION...VERY LITTLE NOW EXPECTED DURING THE
PERIOD. SOME LOW POPS REMAIN IN THE EARLY THURSDAY NIGHT TIME FRAME
IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THE REDUCED RISK FROM A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM
WHICH IS NOW EXPECTED TO FOLLOW A MORE SUPPRESSED SOUTHERN TRACK.
HIGH PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE REGION AND IS THE MAIN INFLUENCE FOR
FRIDAY INTO SUNDAY. A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ON MONDAY PRESENTS THE NEXT
POTENTIAL FOR PRECIPITATION...BUT THE RISK REMAINS LOW ENOUGH TO
KEEP POPS BELOW 15 PERCENT.
IF THIS PANS OUT...WILL BE ONE OF THE QUIETER STRETCHES IN A VERY
ACTIVE WINTER SEASON.
&&
.AVIATION /13Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG,
KILG, KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS.
AFTER 14Z...VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD HAVE ARRIVED AT ALL SITES AND
THE WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL HAVE ARRIVED. GUSTS TO 35 KNOTS
EXPECTED TODAY WITH PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL MECHANICAL TURBULENCE
DEVELOPING. THE WINDS WILL DIMINISH BACK TO AROUND 10 KTS LATER
THIS EVENING AND STAY THAT WAY MUCH OF THE NIGHT. SKC AFTER
SUNSET.
OUTLOOK...
VFR EXPECTED WED AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN. PROBABLY VFR INTO
THE WEEKEND AS WELL...HOWEVER THE 00Z NAM IS SHOWING THE
POSSIBILITY FOR LIGHT SNOW AND LOWER CIGS ACROSS THE SRN TAF SITES
AROUND 12Z THU.
&&
.MARINE...
THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM THIS MORNING CONTINUES TO DEEPEN AND MOVE
NORTHEAST. THIS WILL CONTINUE TODAY WITH WINDS INCREASING TO GALE
STRENGTH THIS MORNING AND LASTING TONIGHT. GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS ARE
EXPECTED. SEAS WILL INCREASE TO 5 TO 8 FT ON THE OCEAN...3 TO 5 FT
ACROSS SRN DEL BAY...AND 2 TO 3 FT ON NRN DEL BAY. CONDITIONS WILL
DECREASE WED AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES IN FROM THE OHIO VALLEY. A
PERIOD OF SCA CONDITIONS EXPECTED INTO EARLY THU.
MORE BENIGN WEATHER WILL END THE WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS IN
CONTROL OF THE WEATHER. ANOTHER ROUND OF SCA CONDITIONS SAT BEHIND
A COLD FRONT MOVING IN FROM THE NORTH.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...
A STRENGTHENING WEST TO NORTHWEST WIND TODAY WILL CREATE
DECIDEDLY NEGATIVE WATER LEVEL DEPARTURES TODAY AND INTO TONIGHT.
IT APPEARS THAT THERE WILL NOT BE ENOUGH NEGATIVE DEPARTURE TO
CREATE BLOWOUT TIDES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR IT HOWEVER.
WE WERE AWARE THAT THE ETSS WEB SITE STOPPED INGESTING LAST
EVENING AND HAVE NOTIFIED NCEP.
&&
.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR PAZ054-055-
060>062-067>071.
NJ...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR NJZ001-007>010-
012>027.
DE...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR DEZ001>004.
MD...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR MDZ008-012-015-
019-020.
MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 1 AM EST WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ430-431-450>455.
&&
SYNOPSIS...DRAG
NEAR TERM...IOVINO
SHORT TERM...DRAG
LONG TERM...SZATKOWSKI
AVIATION...O'HARA
MARINE...O'HARA
TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...O'HARAHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ 830 AM EST TUE FEB 8 2011 NJZ001-007-008-PAZ054-055-061-062-091100- SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-CARBON-MONROE-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON- 830 AM EST TUE FEB 8 2011 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY...EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. WIND CHILL VALUES MAY APPROACH 15 BELOW ZERO IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS EARLY ON WEDNESDAY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. WIND CHILL VALUES NEAR 15 BELOW ZERO ARE POSSIBLE IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS EARLY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ009-010-012>027-PAZ060-067>071- 091100- NEW CASTLE-KENT-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD- QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-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-BERKS-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE- PHILADELPHIA- 830 AM EST TUE FEB 8 2011 ...WIND ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL DELAWARE...NORTHERN DELAWARE...SOUTHERN DELAWARE...NORTHEAST MARYLAND...CENTRAL NEW JERSEY...NORTHERN NEW JERSEY...NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY...SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY...EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. ANZ430-431-450>455-091100- 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- 830 AM EST TUE FEB 8 2011 ...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 1 AM EST WEDNESDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS AND DELAWARE BAY WATERS. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. GALE WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 strong wind. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Delaware in 2011Every state in 2011This day in weather historyWarnings in Delaware, February 2011
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: 282317, 282318, 282320, 282322.