The combination of a rapidly deepening low pressure system moving through the Saint Lawrence Valley and a high pressure system building in from the Plains States produced high winds across Delaware. The strongest winds occurred during two time periods: in the morning shortly after the low pressure system's cold frontal passage and during the afternoon. The peak wind gusts of the event mainly occurred during the afternoon. Numerous trees, tree limbs, transformers and wires were knocked down and damaged homes and vehicles. Scattered transformer fires occurred. In some instances poles were snapped. Numerous roads were closed including Interstate 295 and Delaware State Route 10. The afternoon and evening commute was difficult because of many closed roads. Emergency personnel had the added problem with road closures because the high winds were blowing away the plastic and wood road barriers.  Shingles, chimney covers,  gutters and siding were ripped from houses and fences were damaged by downed limbs and trees.  Vehicles were damaged by fallen trees and/or flying debris. Awnings were torn away, store windows damaged, roadway business signs were knocked down as were overhead traffic signs and traffic signals. Trash and recycling cans were tossed in the middle of roads. Some schools had early dismissal because of the lost power and many scholastic games were cancelled. The high winds made it very difficult to fight fires and led to blow out tides at times of low tide during the evening of the 13th and also on the 14th. Conectiv Energy reported about 46,600 of its customers lost power in its Delaware service area. All power was restored by 6 p.m. on the 15th. The high winds caused the suspension of the Cape May-Lewes Ferry service during the afternoon and evening of the 13th. Service resumed the next day.  In New Castle County, downed transmission lines forced the closure of Interstate 295 in both directions for two hours during the afternoon of the 13th. It caused major traffic backups on Interstate 95, U.S. Route 13 and Delaware State Route 9. In Newport, a 200 foot tall oak tree penetrated into the first floor of a home. Its roots flipped their neighbor's shed into the air. A man had his middle finger severed and ring finger nearly severed after the wind smashed a door close on him. The blow out tides left an oil refinery near Delaware City without enough cooling water late on the 13th and the 14th. This subsequently damaged the crude refining unit and caused sporadic pollution releases. The blow out tides left cooling water supplies nine to twelve feet below normal. Some pumps shut down and production was cut back and damaged the crude unit where oil was first processed. The crude unit also developed a leak. On the morning of the 14th, the accumulative effect of two days of strong to high winds resulted in the evacuation of 5,000 people from three office buildings in downtown Wilmington. Bolts on the facade of The Bank One building loosened on the 7th, 8th and 9th floors. The facade was designed to shift with the wind, but apparently shifted more than normal. The bolts that anchor the facade to the inner structure loosened. Cracks in the drywall were seen on the interior of the building. The building was evacuated as was a second Bank One building and the New Castle County Courthouse which was across the street from the side of that facade. An eight block area including Walnut and 4th Streets were closed. After the building was inspected, it was reopened at 415 p.m. that afternoon.     In Kent County, a tractor-trailer overturned on Delaware State Route 1 while crossing the Saint Jones River. A Cessna flipped at Dover Air Force Base. An overhead sign on U.S. Route 113 in Dover blew down and struck a vehicle. The driver was uninjured. In Sussex County, light poles were snapped in Georgetown and about 2,000 homes and businesses lost power.  Peak wind gusts included 70 mph at the Pilot Tower (Sussex County), 68 mph at Breakwater Harbor (Sussex County), 59 mph at the New Castle County Airport, 56 mph at the Dover Air Force Base, 52 mph in Lewes (Sussex County) and Bear (New Castle County) and 50 mph at the Georgetown/Sussex County Airport (50 mph).  The high winds were caused by the pressure difference between the low pressure system in the Saint Lawrence Valley and a high pressure system in the Central Plains. The low intensified from a 1004 millibar system over Lake Superior the morning of the 12th, to a 982 millibar low near Montreal the morning of the 13th to a 970 millibar low in the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River the morning of the 14th. Some strong wind gusts also occurred on the 14th and hampered power restoration work. Winds diminished for good during the evening of the 14th.

High Wind in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 13-NOV-03 07:00:00 to 13-NOV-03 23:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 60 EG
Property damage: 20K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

High Wind in INLAND SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 13-NOV-03 07:00:00 to 13-NOV-03 23:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 61 MG
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

High Wind in KENT, DELAWARE
From 13-NOV-03 07:00:00 to 13-NOV-03 23:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 52 EG
Property damage: 25K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

High Wind in NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
From 13-NOV-03 07:00:00 to 13-NOV-03 23:00:00 (EST)
Magnitude: 51 MG
Property damage: 430K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER