New Castle County Natural Disasters and Weather Extremes
Hot Delaware Rankings
The chance of earthquake damage in New Castle County is higher than Delaware average and is higher than the national average. The risk of tornado damage in New Castle County is higher than Delaware average and is about the same as the national average.
Earthquake Index, #1
| New Castle County | 2.62 |
| Delaware | 1.54 |
| U.S. | 1.81 |
The earthquake index value is calculated based on historical earthquake events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the earthquake level in a region. A higher earthquake index value means a higher chance of an earthquake.
Volcano Index, #1
| New Castle County | 0.0000 |
| Delaware | 0.0000 |
| U.S. | 0.0023 |
The volcano index value is calculated based on the currently known volcanoes using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the possibility of a region being affected by a possible volcano eruption. A higher volcano index value means a higher chance of being affected.
Tornado Index, #1
| New Castle County | 145.07 |
| Delaware | 107.77 |
| U.S. | 136.45 |
The tornado index value is calculated based on historical tornado events data using USA.com algorithms. It is an indicator of the tornado level in a region. A higher tornado index value means a higher chance of tornado events.
Other Weather Extremes Events
A total of 16,843 other weather extremes events within 50 miles of New Castle County were recorded from 1950 to 2010. The following is a break down of these events:
| Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count | Type | Count |
| Avalanche: | 0 | Blizzard: | 13 | Cold: | 110 | Dense Fog: | 94 | Drought: | 171 |
| Dust Storm: | 0 | Flood: | 2,324 | Hail: | 2,115 | Heat: | 319 | Heavy Snow: | 224 |
| High Surf: | 34 | Hurricane: | 3 | Ice Storm: | 35 | Landslide: | 0 | Strong Wind: | 514 |
| Thunderstorm Winds: | 7,488 | Tropical Storm: | 13 | Wildfire: | 85 | Winter Storm: | 248 | Winter Weather: | 394 |
| Other: | 2,659 | ||||||||
Volcanos Nearby
No volcano is found in or near New Castle County.
Historical Earthquake Events
A total of 4 historical earthquake events that had recorded magnitudes of 3.5 or above found in or near New Castle County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Depth (km) | Latitude | Longitude |
| 44.8 | 1984-04-23 | 4.4 | 5 | 39.92 | -76.36 |
| 14.7 | 1973-02-28 | 3.8 | 14 | 39.72 | -75.44 |
| 49.6 | 1980-03-11 | 3.7 | 5 | 40.16 | -75.1 |
| 49.6 | 1980-03-05 | 3.5 | 5 | 40.19 | -75.16 |
Historical Tornado Events
A total of 39 historical tornado events that had recorded magnitude of 2 or above found in or near New Castle County.
| Distance (miles) | Date | Magnitude | Start Lat/Log | End Lat/Log | Length | Width | Fatalities | Injuries | Property Damage | Crop Damage | Affected County |
| 7.5 | 1961-04-28 | 3 | 39°40'N / 75°34'W | 0.30 Mile | 30 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | New Castle | |
| 9.6 | 2004-09-28 | 2 | 39°41'N / 75°36'W | 39°44'N / 75°35'W | 5.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 0 | 1.0M | 0 | New Castle |
| Brief Description: An F2 (on the Fujita scale) tornado touched down in northern New Castle County with maximum winds estimated at 130 mph. The path length was 5.0 miles long with a maximum path width of 150 yards. The tornado touched down near and was observed at the New Castle County Airport. The northern end of the tornado track was in Elsmere. Significant damage did occur along the path of this tornado, particularly to some of the planes at the airport and industrial buildings near the airport. In addition, five persons were injured. The tornado damaged five C-130 cargo planes at the New Castle County Airport, caused thousands of pounds of jet fuel to spill and damaged hangers. It tore through the Newport Industrial Park along Delaware State Route 141. It tossed long strips of metal siding into the air and onto roads. Windows were shattered, walls peeled away and trees and light poles were snapped. The roof and whole side of the United Electric Supply building was torn away. Delaware State Route 141 and some nearby side streets were closed. Gas service was shut off to prevent explosions. On Bellecor Drive, a self-storage facility suffered major damage. One man at the business was injured after he was trapped under a fallen refrigerator. Three people were injured at the airport itself. A man in Elsmere was hit by a fallen tree limb. The tornado also caused damaged to homes in Wilmington Manor and Chelsea Estates near the airport. In Elsmere, the tornado tore shingles and vent covers from the Corpus Christi Elementary School. The ensuing heavy rain damaged the gymnasium. In the Red Clay Consolidated School District, the tornado also caused minor damage to the Richardson Park Elementary School. | |||||||||||
| 9.9 | 1954-07-01 | 2 | 39°27'N / 75°44'W | 1.00 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | New Castle | |
| 10.2 | 1981-05-15 | 2 | 39°36'N / 75°50'W | 1.50 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Cecil | |
| 13.5 | 1988-08-17 | 2 | 39°43'N / 75°28'W | 1.50 Miles | 400 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Salem | |
| 14.5 | 1989-06-09 | 2 | 39°47'N / 75°41'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 1 | 2.5M | 0 | New Castle | |
| 14.7 | 1990-10-18 | 2 | 39°47'N / 75°35'W | 1.00 Mile | 430 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | New Castle | |
| 15.7 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 39°46'N / 75°44'W | 39°48'N / 75°48'W | 4.10 Miles | 63 Yards | 1 | 4 | 2.5M | 0 | Chester |
| 16.2 | 1960-07-14 | 2 | 39°43'N / 75°26'W | 39°44'N / 75°23'W | 2.30 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Salem |
| 16.7 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 39°47'N / 75°29'W | 2.50 Miles | 200 Yards | 0 | 5 | 250K | 0 | New Castle | |
| 18.9 | 2002-05-02 | 2 | 39°39'N / 76°00'W | 39°42'N / 75°57'W | 4.50 Miles | 160 Yards | 0 | 0 | 330K | 0 | Cecil |
| Brief Description: The first F2 (on the Fujita Scale) tornado in 21 years struck Cecil County during the late afternoon of the 2nd. About 21 homes, silos, sheds and barns sustained moderate to extensive damage. One family was displaced as their house was condemned because of the wind damage. Many large trees and utility poles were splintered, uprooted or snapped. Marble size hail was also reported. No serious injuries were reported. Damage was estimated at $330,000. The path length was 4.5 miles. The maximum path width was 160 yards. The tornado initially touched down just to the west of England Creamery Road about 5 miles southeast of Rising Sun at 538 p.m. EDT. The tornado's intensity was F0 to F1 as it moved across England Creamery and Trinity Church Roads. One house on Trinity Church Road had its windows broken, its porch splintered and its roof damaged. A second house on the road had its porch torn away and shingles ripped from the roof. The homeowner's barn and its content was destroyed. Their lawn chairs and hedge trimmers were found half a mile away. One of the two points that the tornado reached its maximum intensity of F2 occurred when it moved through the Tailwind Estates on Steeplechase Lane. Three homes were heavily damaged. One house (the condemned one) had half its roof torn away and its chimney crash through its deck. The homeowner's SUV vehicle was displaced 25 feet and a shed on the block was tossed over 100 yards. The tornado's intensity again peaked at F2 as it moved through a wooded area north of Old Elm Road and west of Blue Ball Road. Extensive tree damage occurred. The second floor of a new home under construction in the area also collapsed. During the last half mile of its existence, the tornado weakened and did not remain on the ground the entire time. It dissipated around the intersection of Fairview Road and Maryland State Route 273 at 545 p.m. EDT. | |||||||||||
| 23.4 | 1975-07-13 | 2 | 39°30'N / 75°13'W | 1.50 Miles | 77 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25.0M | 0 | Cumberland | |
| 23.6 | 1992-07-17 | 2 | 39°54'N / 75°47'W | 39°55'N / 75°43'W | 4.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chester |
| 23.8 | 1960-07-14 | 2 | 39°44'N / 75°23'W | 39°46'N / 75°08'W | 13.30 Miles | 450 Yards | 0 | 6 | 0K | 0 | Gloucester |
| 25.3 | 1973-06-29 | 2 | 39°56'N / 75°29'W | 39°54'N / 75°27'W | 1.90 Miles | 63 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Delaware |
| 25.5 | 1959-07-19 | 2 | 39°31'N / 76°07'W | 0.80 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Harford | |
| 28.1 | 1980-06-29 | 2 | 39°31'N / 76°10'W | 2.00 Miles | 150 Yards | 0 | 10 | 250K | 0 | Harford | |
| 28.5 | 1983-07-21 | 2 | 39°10'N / 75°43'W | 1.00 Mile | 20 Yards | 2 | 9 | 250K | 0 | Kent | |
| 29.2 | 1976-03-21 | 2 | 39°13'N / 75°56'W | 0.20 Mile | 100 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Queen Anne's | |
| 30.3 | 1955-03-22 | 3 | 39°58'N / 75°37'W | 40°03'N / 75°28'W | 9.60 Miles | 600 Yards | 1 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Chester |
| 31.0 | 1992-08-28 | 2 | 39°57'N / 75°58'W | 2.00 Miles | 100 Yards | 0 | 3 | 250K | 0 | Chester | |
| 33.1 | 1990-05-10 | 2 | 39°29'N / 75°02'W | 0.50 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Cumberland | |
| 33.3 | 1975-04-03 | 2 | 40°02'N / 75°40'W | 40°05'N / 75°39'W | 3.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Chester |
| 33.7 | 1998-05-31 | 2 | 39°54'N / 76°10'W | 39°55'N / 76°03'W | 7.00 Miles | 880 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Lancaster |
| Brief Description: The tornado struck about 12:30am EDT in the early morning hours of Monday, June 1st. Initial touchdown was just south of Quarryville. The tornado traveled east along a 7 mile path to Ninepoints. Damage was most extensive in the Ninepoints area and was rated an F2 intensity (112 to 157 mph). The width of the F2 damage was probably 100 to 200 yards wide with lesser damage extending out to 1/2 mile. At least 6 homes had significant damage. One home had the roof and second floor removed. Several barns were damaged and at least one destroyed. Trees were blown down on a number of homes. One person reported sighting the tornado. Only one minor injury was reported. | |||||||||||
| 35.4 | 1974-08-17 | 2 | 39°57'N / 76°06'W | 0.70 Mile | 33 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Lancaster | |
| 37.0 | 1958-07-14 | 2 | 39°56'N / 75°08'W | 39°56'N / 75°07'W | 0 | 0 | 3K | 0 | Philadelphia | ||
| 37.4 | 1989-06-09 | 2 | 39°57'N / 75°09'W | 39°57'N / 75°07'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Philadelphia |
| 37.5 | 1971-07-30 | 2 | 39°04'N / 76°03'W | 39°08'N / 75°55'W | 8.30 Miles | 300 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Queen Anne's |
| 38.6 | 1977-06-09 | 2 | 39°02'N / 75°28'W | 0.20 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 1 | 250K | 0 | Kent | |
| 38.7 | 1989-06-09 | 2 | 39°57'N / 75°07'W | 39°57'N / 75°05'W | 1.50 Miles | 50 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Camden |
| 38.7 | 1967-01-27 | 2 | 39°01'N / 75°35'W | 0.50 Mile | 50 Yards | 0 | 7 | 250K | 0 | Kent | |
| 39.1 | 1992-07-31 | 2 | 39°01'N / 75°31'W | 39°02'N / 75°26'W | 4.00 Miles | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Kent |
| 39.6 | 2004-09-18 | 2 | 39°42'N / 76°22'W | 39°44'N / 76°22'W | 2.00 Miles | 125 Yards | 0 | 0 | 350K | 0 | Harford |
| Brief Description: A tornado touched down near a residence off Grier Nursery Road. The storm destroyed two mobile homes, the side of a barn was blown out, structural damage to two homes were noted, and numerous large healthy trees were twisted off near the bases. | |||||||||||
| 41.8 | 1958-07-14 | 2 | 39°56'N / 75°07'W | 39°58'N / 74°56'W | 9.80 Miles | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 0K | 0 | Philadelphia |
| 42.1 | 1979-09-05 | 2 | 39°27'N / 76°25'W | 0.50 Mile | 20 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Baltimore | |
| 44.3 | 1961-06-08 | 2 | 40°12'N / 75°27'W | 1.00 Mile | 200 Yards | 0 | 1 | 25K | 0 | Montgomery | |
| 47.9 | 1960-06-24 | 2 | 40°12'N / 75°15'W | 0.80 Mile | 27 Yards | 0 | 0 | 250K | 0 | Montgomery | |
| 48.8 | 1956-05-06 | 2 | 39°15'N / 74°50'W | 0.20 Mile | 40 Yards | 0 | 0 | 25K | 0 | Cape May | |
| 48.9 | 1961-07-29 | 2 | 39°59'N / 76°30'W | 40°02'N / 76°15'W | 13.40 Miles | 500 Yards | 0 | 2 | 2.5M | 0 | Lancaster |
* The information on this page is based on the global volcano database, the U.S. earthquake database of 1638-1985, and the U.S. Tornado and Weather Extremes database of 1950-2010.