The confirmed tornado in Kent County marked the first time in nearly 50 years to hit Delaware in March.
The National Weather Service said on the evening of March 17 that an EF-1 tornado “occurred Monday evening (March 16) near Frederica, Delaware.”
“The preliminary rating is EF-1, with maximum winds expected to be 100 mph,” the weather agency said.
The National Weather Service’s damage survey team is still working to review areas near Camden that experienced “extensive wind damage.”
When does tornado season start?
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Severe Storms Laboratory, tornadoes are possible year-round in the United States.
But tornado season is generally considered to run from March to June or July—although this may vary depending on your country.
Over the past 70 years, Delaware has recorded tornadoes as early as January (1967) and as late as November (1989). However, most occur during the summer, according to the Delaware Online/News Journal’s tornado tracker.
2025 Delaware Tornadoes: Video shows funnel cloud confirming tornado over Frankfurt on June 30
The last time a tornado was recorded in Delaware in March was in 1977.
Last year, there were two tornadoes in Delaware. The first was on May 16 south of Bethel, and the second was on June 30 in Frankfort. Both locations are Sussex County.
Have a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes: ihughes@delawareonline.com.
This article originally appeared in the Delaware News Journal: National Weather Service confirms EF-1 tornado in Delaware