Tornado History

Delaware Tornado History

This page summarizes tornado history for Delaware. The local dataset contains 76 tornado records from 1954 through 2026, with a strongest listed rating of F3 (Severe damage) and at least $13.1M in reported property damage. The latest tornado record in this group is March 16, 2026. Across these records, NOAA lists 3 deaths and 78 injuries.

Key Tornado Statistics

Total Tornadoes76
Total Deaths3
Total Injuries78
Property Damage$13.1M
Avg Length2.9 mi
Avg Width121 yd

Key Tornado Facts for Delaware

Top local patterns from the historical tornado records in this group.

Average 1.0 tornadoes per year (1.8/yr in last decade)
July is the peak tornado month with 21 recorded events
Deadliest tornado: F2 in Delaware with 2 deaths
1992 was the most active year with 6 tornadoes
The 1990s had the most tornado activity (15 events)
Longest tornado: 20.89 miles in Delaware
Widest tornado: 700.0 yards in Delaware
Most tornadoes in one day: 5 on Aug 4, 2020

Monthly Distribution

Shows tornado frequency across months of the year, highlighting seasonal patterns and peak tornado periods.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

Summary: In Delaware, July is the most active month with 21 tornadoes.

Annual Tornado Trend

Shows year-by-year tornado counts, making active years and quiet stretches easier to spot.

6420

Summary: 1992 was the most active year with 6 recorded tornadoes.

Tornado Intensity Distribution

Shows the breakdown of tornadoes by EF/F rating.

F0
EF0
F1
EF1
F2
EF2
F3
EF3
Unknown

Summary: F1 tornadoes are the most common in this group, with 21 recorded events.

Property Damage Trends

Visualizes reported property damage over time. Bars use a log-like scale so very large damage years do not flatten the rest of the chart.

$5.0M$500K$50K$0

Summary: The highest reported property damage year in this group is 1988 with at least $5.0M in NOAA-listed property damage.

Tornado Count By County

Compares the counties with the most tornado records in this state dataset.

Sussex
New Castle
Kent

Summary: Sussex County has the highest count in this state group with 28 tornado records.

Historical Track Sketch

F3 April 28, 19611961EF3 April 1, 20232023F2 June 9, 19891989F2 September 28, 20042004F2 January 27, 19671967F2 June 9, 19771977F2 September 5, 19791979F2 July 21, 19831983F2 October 18, 19901990F2 July 31, 19921992F2 July 18, 19841984F2 July 1, 19541954F2 August 12, 19551955EF2 April 15, 20192019EF2 August 4, 2020EF2 August 4, 2020F1 June 7, 1988F1 June 7, 1988F1 July 27, 1994F1 April 3, 1975F1 August 10, 1979F1 May 8, 1984F1 May 8, 1984F1 November 16, 1989EF1 May 22, 2014F1 April 1, 1993F1 July 21, 1962F1 June 24, 1962F1 March 13, 1977F1 July 15, 1992F1 July 31, 1992F1 July 5, 1957F1 September 10, 1957F1 March 26, 1964F1 October 18, 1967F1 March 19, 1975F1 October 18, 1967F1 August 15, 1989EF1 August 27, 2011EF1 April 15, 2019EF1 August 4, 2020EF1 August 4, 2020EF1 August 4, 2020EF1 August 7, 2020EF1 July 1, 2021EF1 July 1, 2021EF1 July 9, 2023EF1 August 8, 2024EF1 May 16, 2025EF1 March 16, 2026F0 July 8, 1991F0 July 27, 1994EF0 July 9, 2015EF0 September 3, 2012F0 April 1, 1993F0 April 1, 1993F0 July 14, 1958F0 August 27, 1967F0 August 4, 1975F0 June 26, 1995F0 June 28, 1973F0 August 4, 1975F0 July 14, 1975F0 June 30, 1976F0 July 21, 1988F0 July 15, 1992F0 July 15, 1992F0 August 28, 1992F0 August 13, 1998F0 July 12, 2004EF0 June 10, 2013EF0 June 19, 2017EF0 September 11, 2023EF0 June 30, 2025Unknown March 21, 1976Unknown August 10, 1977© OpenStreetMap contributors
This map covers the wider location—not your exact property.Measure the closest recorded track to a street address in or near Delaware.
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Notable Tornado Records

The table highlights the strongest and most damaging records in this page's local dataset. Damage totals are NOAA-reported minimum estimates where available.

DateRatingAreaLengthWidthDeathsInjuriesMin. property damage
April 28, 1961F3New Castle, Delaware0.3 mi30 yd00$25K
April 1, 2023EF3Sussex, Delaware14.3 mi700 yd10N/A
June 9, 1989F2New Castle, Delaware2 mi100 yd01$2.5M
September 28, 2004F2New Castle, Delaware5 mi150 yd00$1.0M
July 21, 1983F2Kent, Delaware1 mi20 yd29$250K
January 27, 1967F2Kent, Delaware0.5 mi50 yd07$250K
June 9, 1977F2Kent, Delaware0.2 mi40 yd01$250K
September 5, 1979F2New Castle, Delaware2.5 mi200 yd05$250K
October 18, 1990F2New Castle, Delaware1 mi430 yd00$250K
July 31, 1992F2Kent, Delaware4 mi20 yd00$250K
July 18, 1984F2Sussex, Delaware1.5 mi80 yd00$25K
July 1, 1954F2New Castle, Delaware1 mi50 yd00$2K
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Source And Limits

Data sourced from NOAA Storm Prediction Center and the NCEI Storm Events Database. TornadoTrace summarizes reported weather events for screening and research; it is not a damage assessment, inspection, or insurance determination. Coordinates and records can be approximate, incomplete, revised, or missing. No warranty of completeness or accuracy.

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