A slow moving low pressure system at both the surface and aloft helped trigger very heavy rain across New Castle County from the late morning into the afternoon 20th. Storm totals ranged from 1.5 inches south to 4.0 inches north, most of which fell during the afternoon. Without any thunder, New Castle County Airport received 1.10 inches of rain in one hour from 323 p.m. until 423 p.m. EDT.  The heavy rain led to widespread poor drainage flooding as well as flooding of most of the gaged rivers and streams in the county. The Delaware Department of Traffic closed about sixteen main roads throughout the county. They ran short of high water signs. Southbound U.S. Route 13 near U.S. Route 40 was at a standstill through the evening commute. Throughout the county, cars were stranded in high water. Flooding forced the evacuation of three families from the Brack-Ex development after Conectiv cut off power. The water saturated soil plus the flooding caused trees to fall. About 14,000 Conectiv customers lost power. No serious injuries were reported. The Christina River at Coochs Bridge was above its 9 foot flood stage from 235 p.m. EDT on the 20th through 247 a.m. EDT on the 21st. It crested at 12.01 feet at 830 p.m. EDT on the 20th. The White Clay Creek at Newark was above its 13 foot flood stage from 413 p.m. EDT on the 20th through 455 a.m. EDT on the 21st. It crested at 14.97 feet at 815 p.m. EDT on the 20th. The Red Clay Creek at Wooddale was above its 5.5 foot flood stage from 400 p.m. EDT on the 20th through 441 a.m. EDT on the 21st. It crested at 9.98 feet at 745 p.m. EDT on the 20th. Farther downstream, the Red Clay Creek at Stanton was above its 15 foot flood stage from 415 p.m. EDT on the 20th through 504 a.m. EDT on the 21st. It crested at 18.46 feet at 1030 p.m. EDT on the 20th. The Brandywine Creek in Wilmington was above its 11 foot flood stage from 511 a.m. EDT through 207 p.m. EDT on the 21st. It crested at 11.81 feet at 2 p.m. EDT on the 21st.  Storm totals included 3.59 inches at the New Castle County Airport, 3.30 inches in Newark and 2.63 inches in Bear. The low pressure system responsible for the heavy rain formed along a stationary front over the Carolinas during the morning of the 20th. It moved to just east of Wallops Island, Virginia during the evening of the 20th and well east of the Delmarva Peninsula during the morning of the 21st. An inverted trough at the surface that extended from the low north into Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Pennsylvania concentrated the heavy rain along its axis. June as a whole was an unseasonably wet month. On a county weighted average, June monthly precipitation totals averaged 9.5 inches in New Castle County. Normal is around 3.6 inches. The June monthly precipitation total of 9.90 inches at the New Castle County Airport was the wettest on record. The wet spring weather led to a whole different set of problems from the drought of the previous year. Planted seeds were drowning and rotting. Tobacco farmers were worrying about mold. Many soybean, corn and berry fields were too wet. There were also problems with slugs. Vegetables were generally about a month behind. Double crop fields fell behind schedule because of the slow growth of straw and hay. Garden shops sales have been down. Pool installations were about three to six weeks behind. Ant infestations increased. Windshield wipers were tearing. Many spring athletic seasons were extended because of postponed events. There will be a bumper crop of mosquitoes. Attendance along the shore and at amusement parks was down. Road work was delayed. The one few positives from the wet weather was lower utility bills.

Flood in NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
From 20-JUN-03 13:35:00 to 21-JUN-03 13:02:00 (EST)
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER