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Delaware tornado delivered peak wind at 95 mph, damage in its 1-mile path. How big was it?

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Delaware tornado delivered peak wind at 95 mph, damage in its 1-mile path. How big was it?


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It touched down just after 7 p.m. The whole of New Castle County, and Delaware, already braced for continued remnants of then-Tropical Storm Debby barreling up the East Coast on Thursday.

The EF1 tornado knotted into shape over Marshallton, atwist with peak winds estimated at 95 mph, according to the preliminary report released Saturday morning by the National Weather Service. After initially hitting just south of Acme, the cyclone dragged a path of damage northward for another 1.13 miles – breaking windows, downing fences and dropping trees in its wake.

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The wind funnel reached a max width of about 150 yards on its trek, according to the weather service. No injuries were reported, and preliminary reports aided by spotters noted debris “lofted into the air.” Damage to buildings and homes was reported.

Its ultimate EF1 rating corresponds to “moderate” impact, per forecasters, whereas a maximum EF5 would have meant “incredible” damage for communities, or winds over 260 mph.

Thursday’s tornado was the first to touch down on state soil this year.

But Delaware has been no stranger to such whirlwinds. Most have been rated EF0 or EF1. 

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Hear from residents: They were in cars, homes and Acme. Residents describe Thursday tornado in Delaware

21-mile path? Looking back at tornadoes in Delaware

The First State has faced about 78 tornadoes since 1950, according to a Delaware Online/The News Journal database aggregating reporting data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Just two of those twisters have led to direct fatalities, per the database. A 78-year-old man was killed last year in his Greenwood home in Sussex County, and two people were killed near Hartly in Kent County in 1983. Property damage totals nearly $13.4 million across the state as of April. That figure does not include damages incurred in the past five years.

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The year 2020 stands out with six tornadoes, tied with 1992 for the most in one year. All those formations came in the same four-day span that August.

That was when Tropical Storm Isaias brought high winds, heavy rain, several tornadoes and coastal flooding to the entire Mid-Atlantic – becoming the most impactful tropical cyclone to hit the region since Sandy in 2012, per the database.

One EF2 tornado alone, delivering “significant” damage, posted a path nearly 21 miles in length. It reached 500 feet at its max width, with peak winds at 115 mph.

That cyclone tore through New Castle County after 8 a.m., continuing nearly parallel to Routes 1 and 13 on the east sides of Townsend and Middletown. Trees were snapped. Roofs were damaged. Several garage doors were blown out; another garage was destroyed on Blackbird Landing Road. Homes in Middletown sustained damage, with ripped-out walls or tree impact.

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A history of twisters: Tornadoes in Delaware since 1950

A stronger tornado came just last year.

It touched down in the evening near Bridgeville, on April 1, 2023, before killing the 78-year-old Greenwood man. The twister delivered severe damage on its 14-mile path, barreling with peak winds clocked at 98-mph wind gusts about 10 feet off the ground. Utility poles were snapped, siding and roofs ripped away, parked semi-trailers blown over a driveway, among much more damage reported in Sussex County.



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Delaware

Local police departments earn state accreditation

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Local police departments earn state accreditation


The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission recently announced that the Dewey Beach Police Department and Rehoboth Beach Police Department have both earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission.

As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured all accreditation standards were met by completing comprehensive, on-site inspections of each agency, reviewing their policies and procedures for compliance, and conducting interviews with department members. 

“This milestone represents a significant step forward for public safety in Delaware. The initial state accreditation of these police agencies reflects a strong commitment to professionalism, accountability and excellence in law enforcement. I commend each department for their dedication to serving their communities with integrity and for upholding the highest standards,” said Joshua Bushweller, Department of Safety and Homeland Security secretary and DPAC chair.



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DDA inducts three Delaware Century Farms – 47abc

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DDA inducts three Delaware Century Farms – 47abc


Dover, Del. – Three farms, one from each of Delaware’s counties, were inducted into the Century Farm Program by the state Department of Agriculture on Thursday at the Delaware Agricultural Museum.

Each of the family farms has been owned and operated for at least a century. Each received a sign for their farms, an engraved plate and legislative tributes.

In addition to Secretary of Agriculture, Don Clifton, and Deputy Secretary Jimmy Kroon, state Senators David Wilson (R – District 18) and Kyra Hoffner (D – District 14) were also in attendance.

Wright Family Farms are located in Harrington in Kent County. In 1919, the farm was purchased by William Wright. Over a century later, William’s grandson, Ronald, is the owner and his great-grandson, Greg, said he hopes to continue the family legacy by buying the farm from his father. 

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Although the event celebrated each family for their hard work and resilience, it also highlighted the challenges farmers have to surmount to stay in business today, let alone for a hundred years.

“The price of equipment, the price of fertilizer, the price of seed, everything is just gone up,” Greg said. “So, you know, everything’s going up that we gotta purchase just to stay in business.”

Clifton, Kroon and Wilson also echoed difficulties in balancing the need to preserve agricultural land with the need to develop housing and sustainable energy projects like solar power.

“I know housing is very important, and we want people to always have good housing, but at some point, I think you’re going to saturate the area with more houses than you have food to feed these people,” Wilson said.

Kroon also said there are difficulties in keeping future generations motivated to stay in farming.

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“When you think about it in the context of multi-generational farm families, there’s a real long-term challenge where a new generation may think twice about whether they want to keep farming if it’s always a struggle,” he said.

Clifton said farming has always been a challenging way of life, but it has been so since time immemorial.

“These families, their experience shows that they have an appreciation for the way of life and perseverance and that’s to be honored and emulated to the greatest extent possible,” he said.

Greg said he hopes to pass down the way of life so that his family legacy can live on for another hundred years, as well as for other families.

“A hundred years as the same family tilling the land, that’s, you know, that’s an honor right there,” Greg said. “And I hope that more farmers who are close to 100 years old will be doing the same thing. You know, keep it in the family.”

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Investigation underway after man’s body pulled from Delaware River

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Investigation underway after man’s body pulled from Delaware River


An investigation is underway after police said a man’s body was pulled from the Delaware River in South Philadelphia.

According to police, around 9 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, emergency responders pulled an unidentified man from the Delaware River, near the Navy Yard. Medic’s pronounced the man dead at 9:11 a.m.

Léelo en español aquí.

SkyForce10 flew above as police and other first responders were on the scene.

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Police are working to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify the man.

This is a developing story; check back here for updates.



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