Tornadoes in Delaware
Delaware has recorded 74 tornadoes from 1950 through 2025, about 0.7 per year over the last 30 years. They killed 3 people and injured 66. July is the most active month.
- 74 tornadoes
- 0.7 per year
- 0 rated (E)F4–5
- 3 deaths
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Map data: NWS, OpenFreeMap, OpenStreetMap
Tornadoes per year
When tornadoes happen in Delaware
Ratings before February 2007 use the original Fujita (F) scale; later tornadoes use the Enhanced Fujita (EF) scale. How the EF scale works.
Deadliest tornadoes in Delaware
| Date | Rating | County | Path length | Width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 21, 1983 | F2 | Kent County | 1 mi | 20 yd | 2 | 9 |
| April 1, 2023 | EF3 | Sussex County | 14.3 mi | 700 yd | 1 | 0 |
Strongest tornadoes in Delaware
| Date | Rating | County | Path length | Width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2023 | EF3 | Sussex County | 14.3 mi | 700 yd | 1 | 0 |
| April 28, 1961 | F3 | New Castle County | 0.3 mi | 30 yd | 0 | 0 |
| July 21, 1983 | F2 | Kent County | 1 mi | 20 yd | 2 | 9 |
| August 4, 2020 | EF2 | Kent County | 35.8 mi | 500 yd | 0 | 0 |
| September 27, 1993 | F2 | New Castle County | 10 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| April 15, 2019 | EF2 | Sussex County | 6.2 mi | 400 yd | 0 | 1 |
| September 28, 2004 | F2 | New Castle County | 5 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 0 |
| July 31, 1992 | F2 | Kent County | 4 mi | 20 yd | 0 | 0 |
| August 12, 1955 | F2 | Sussex County | 2.7 mi | 133 yd | 0 | 1 |
| September 5, 1979 | F2 | New Castle County | 2.5 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 5 |
Most recent tornadoes
| Date | Rating | County | Path length | Width | Deaths | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | EF0 | Sussex County | 0.5 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| August 8, 2024 | EF1 | New Castle County | 1.1 mi | 150 yd | 0 | 0 |
| September 11, 2023 | EF0 | Sussex County | 0.7 mi | 370 yd | 0 | 0 |
| July 9, 2023 | EF1 | New Castle County | 1.2 mi | 200 yd | 0 | 0 |
| April 1, 2023 | EF3 | Sussex County | 14.3 mi | 700 yd | 1 | 0 |
| July 1, 2021 | EF1 | Sussex County | 4.7 mi | 100 yd | 0 | 0 |
| July 1, 2021 | EF1 | Kent County | 3.9 mi | 50 yd | 0 | 0 |
| August 7, 2020 | EF1 | New Castle County | 4.2 mi | 450 yd | 0 | 0 |
| August 4, 2020 | EF2 | Kent County | 35.8 mi | 500 yd | 0 | 0 |
| August 4, 2020 | EF1 | Sussex County | 2.1 mi | 400 yd | 0 | 0 |
Counties with the most tornadoes
| County | Tornadoes since 1950 | Per 1,000 sq mi |
|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 28 | 170234741.8 |
| Sussex County | 25 | 69177350.4 |
| Kent County | 24 | 106075085.3 |
About this data
Tornado records come from the NOAA Storm Prediction Center database of confirmed tornadoes, 1950–2025. Tornadoes that crossed state lines are counted in the state where they began. Counts in the early decades are lower partly because many weak tornadoes went unreported before Doppler radar and storm spotter networks.