Del. braces for wet, windy weather

High winds, tornadoes and flooding. All are threats as heavy rainstorms move through Delaware.

There is a coastal flood warning for all three counties in Delaware until 7 p.m. Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.

A tornado watch has been extended until 7 p.m. Thursday. And there is a wind advisory through Friday morning and a forecast of up to 4-5 inches of rain overnight.

But so far, according to Rosanne Pack of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, there are no reports of damage or high water.

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Pack says they’re paying very close attention to the Nanticoke River in Seaford because of 10 inches of rain that has already fallen into the Chesapeake. She says streams in northern Delaware in the White Clay and Red Clay areas are also vulnerable to flooding.

But perhaps the biggest threat from this storm is fallen trees. Pack says high winds combined with saturated ground and leaves could cause all kinds of problems.

“It could take down some power lines,” she said. “So people need to be aware that there might be some power outages and to make sure they have flashlights and battery-operated radios.”

The high winds could also create a safety hazard. State safety officials suggest staying indoors when the winds pick up.

And if traveling by car on roads that have been known to flood, Pack recommends taking another route or postponing the trip.

“Because you can get stranded in a vehicle when the water is 6-8 inches high,” she said. “If it’s moving, it can move your vehicle.”