A major coastal storm energized by the remnants of what was once Hurricane Ida continues to creep along the Eastern Seaboard, and promises to lash Sussex County over the next two days with heavy rains, rough surf, significant beach erosion and moderate to severe flooding in low-lying areas.
The National Weather Service in Mt. Holly, N.J., has issued a high wind warning until 6 a.m. Friday and a coastal flood warning until 11 p.m. Friday for the immediate Sussex County coastline; meantime, a wind advisory is posted for inland areas until 6 a.m. Friday. Strong, persistent northeasterly winds gusting as high as 55 mph, along with moderate to severe flooding in low-lying areas near the Inland Bays, Delaware Bay, and Nanticoke River, are expected.
Forecasts call for tides to run approximately 2 to 4 feet above normal over the next several tide cycles. High tide at the Breakwater Harbor in Lewes will be at 4:56 p.m. Thursday, 5:32 a.m. Friday, and 5:51 p.m. Friday; at Indian River Inlet, high tide will occur at 4:39 p.m. Thursday, 5:13 a.m. Friday, and 5:31 p.m. Friday. Along the Nanticoke River, at nearby Sharptown, Md., high tide will occur at 1:35 p.m. Thursday, 1:51 a.m. Friday, and 2:31 p.m. Friday.
Additionally, forecasters are predicting the storm will drop as much as 5 inches of new rainfall, on top of the approximately 2 inches that have already fallen.
The staff at the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center in Georgetown is monitoring the storm and the latest forecasts, and officials urge the public to be mindful of changing conditions and prepared to take action, if necessary
“This could become a very serious situation, especially if the public is not paying attention and not taking the appropriate safeguards to protect themselves,” EOC Director Joseph Thomas said. “This system is going to knock us around for quite a while, and it’s the duration that has us concerned about coastal flooding, especially in communities like Oak Orchard and around the Inland Bays.
“We could be looking at flooding lasting through the next three to five high tides,” Thomas said. “On top of that, heavy rains could cause road flooding, and high winds could topple trees and cause power outages. This storm has the potential to cause a multitude of problems and inflict significant damage.”
No evacuations have been ordered, but Thomas said emergency planners can activate sheltering if conditions warrant.
For a list of road closures, visit the Delaware Department of Transportation Web site at www.deldot.gov. To view a map of power outages in Sussex County, visit www.delmarva.com and www.delaware.coop.
