Delaware under coastal flooding, high wind warnings as Nor’easter hits

A Nor’easter is wreaking havoc throughout Delaware and will continue to cause problems through Monday, according to the National Weather Service.

The storm will combine strong onshore winds; high surf and high tides will lead to major coastline flooding from North Carolina to New Jersey.

Delaware is under a coastal flood warning until 8 p.m. Oct. 13. Sussex County is under a wind advisory until 6 a.m. Oct. 13.

How will Nor’easter impact Delaware?

The First State can expect the following through Monday:

• Moderate to major tidal flooding in the coastal areas of Delaware, including the Delaware Bay.
• Gale and storm force winds (gusts near 44 to 55 knots) and wave heights on the ocean from 15 to 20 feet in the Atlantic coastal waters of Delaware and the coastal Delaware Bay. 
• Northeast winds gusting to 50 to 60 mph along the Delaware coast and 30 to 40 mph winds inland. Power outages and damage are possible.  
• Rainfall amounts around the coast of 1 to 3 inches.

How to stay safe in a flood

As heavy rains come into the area, people need to be aware of their surroundings. Here are a few suggestions from ready.gov, a website run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security:

• Evacuate immediately, if told to evacuate. Never drive around barricades. Local responders use them to safely direct traffic out of flooded areas.
• Listen to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions regarding flooding.
• Do not walk, swim or drive through flood waters. Turn around. Don’t drown!
• Stay off bridges over fast-moving water. Fast-moving water can wash bridges away without warning.