Delaware’s tornado watch has expired, but a wind advisory continues until 2 a.m. March 17 as a series of severe storms move through the First State, according to the National Weather Service.

The storms moved into Delaware around 2 p.m. and will remain in the area throughout the night, dropping between a quarter to an inch of rain throughout the state with high amounts possible with thunderstorms.

The storms also will bring strong wind gusts of up to 50 mph and possibly hail. Delaware residents should watch out for downed trees and power lines.

Tornado risk decreases in the region

The National Weather Service posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, at 5 p.m. Monday, March 16 that the threat of tornadoes was reducing in the northwest and southeast areas of the region, but the risk still remained along Interstate 95 and southwest of I-95.

At 6 p.m., the tornado watch for the state was canceled.

Staying safe in severe weather: Tornado watch vs warning meaning as severe storm nears Delaware

When will the peak of the storm hit?

The peak of the severe weather was supposed to hit the First State between 5 and 11 p.m., bringing thunderstorms, heavy rain and damaging winds, according to the National Weather Service.

Is snow hitting Delaware?

After the storms roll through the state, temperatures will start to drop as winds shift out of the west.

On Tuesday, March 17, New Castle County will see strong west winds at 20 mph and gusting up to 40 mph. Highs will reach 39 mph with increasing clouds and a chance of flurries after 1 p.m. Flurries will end before nightfall.

In Kent County, highs will reach 43 degrees, but there will be scattered flurries after 4 p.m. Winds will be out of the wet at 25 mph with gusts hitting 40 mph. Flurries will end around 7 p.m.

Delaware City Schools is on a two-hour delay due to power outages at schools, the district said in a post on social media.

Multiple schools across the district were without power, Delaware City Schools said in a Facebook post at about 6:30 a.m. March 16. The district said it would operate on a two-hour delay, and that district buses to other schools would also operate two hours behind schedule.

As of 7:30 a.m., about 3,500 households in Delaware County were without power, according to an outage map maintained by AEP Ohio. About 2,300 households were without power in Franklin County.

On March 13, high winds knocked out power for over 100,000 households around Ohio in the most damaging windstorm since the 2013 derecho, power officials said. Nearly 47,500 customers in Franklin County remained without power until at least 11:30 a.m. March 14.

Delaware was also under a wind advisory until 8 a.m. March 16, with the National Weather Service warning winds could gust as high as 40 mph.

Public Safety and Breaking News Reporter Bailey Gallion can be reached at bagallion@dispatch.com.

MUNCIE, IN — A high wind warning has been issued in Delaware County through 8 p.m. on Sunday, March 15.

According a release issued by the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, south winds between 30 and 40 mph are expected, with gusts of up to 60 mph.

“Damaging winds will blow down trees and power lines,” the release said. “Widespread power outages are expected. Gusty winds will blow around unsecured objects.”

“Widespread power outages” are believed to be likely, it said, and the high winds will also make travel difficult.