A northeaster brought tidal flooding, heavy rain, strong winds and beach erosion to central and southern Delaware. Minor tidal flooding occurred along the ocean side with the high tide on the evening of the 6th and extended into Delaware Bay with the subsequent high tide during the morning and early afternoon on the 7th. Storm totals averaged two to three inches and highest wind gusts averaged around 50 mph.
Rain began before sunrise on the morning of the 6th and ended around Noon EDT on the 7th. It fell at its heaviest from the start into the late afternoon on the 6th. The strongest winds occurred during the evening and overnight on the 6th.
The wind damage that occurred with the remnants of Ernesto pruned many of the weaker trees and wind damage was described as minimal. Trash cans were knocked over along the beaches. The heavy rain did cause field and poor drainage flooding, but no major roadway flooding was reported. The worst damage occurred because of the tides and beach erosion. The hardest hit locations along the ocean were South Bethany and Bethany Beach. In Bethany Beach, the high tide went under the boardwalk as there was no beach at high tide. Waves actually crashed onto the boardwalk. In South Bethany, steps were damaged at five oceanfront properties and parts of several driveways were washed away. Beach erosion along the Atlantic was described as moderate. In Delaware Bay at Bowers Beach (Kent County), Main Street was flooded by the high tide on the 7th. The backyards of many homes were flooded. Homes were also surrounded by flood waters on Wyatt Street. The northeaster forced the cancellation of the Thunderbirds air show at Dover Air Force Base.
Peak wind gusts included 55 mph in Rehoboth Beach (Sussex County) and 51 mph at Breakwater Harbor (Sussex County). Storm totals included 2.66 inches in Georgetown (Sussex County), 2.45 inches in Bridgeville (Sussex County), 2.29 inches in Jones Crossing (Sussex County), 1.79 inches in Blackbird (New Castle County) and 1.62 inches in Dover (Kent County).   The highest tides reached 7.4 feet above mean lower low water at Breakwater Harbor (Sussex County) and 6.8 feet at Bowers Beach (Kent County). Minor tidal flooding starts at 6.7 feet above mean lower low water. Farther up the bay at Reedy Point (southern New Castle County), the high tide reached 7.6 feet above mean lower low water. Minor tidal flooding starts at 7.2 feet above mean lower low water.
The northeaster that affected Delaware followed a different storm track than the typical northeaster. It formed along a frontal boundary over the Carolinas on the night of the 5th and then moved slowly east reaching Elizabeth City, North Carolina on the morning of the 7th. But, unlike most northeasters, it then sank south as it was captured by the flow aloft and by the morning of the 8th was located east of Charleston, South Carolina. A strong high pressure system built over New England and it took sank slowly southward. But on the 6th and 7th the circulation around both systems brought the onshore flow that caused the heavy rain, strong winds and higher than normal tides.

Strong Wind in INLAND SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 06-OCT-06 19:00:00 to 07-OCT-06 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 44.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Heavy Rain in KENT, DELAWARE
From 06-OCT-06 04:00:00 to 06-OCT-06 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: BLACKISTON
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Heavy Rain in SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 06-OCT-06 04:00:00 to 06-OCT-06 16:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: GEORGETOWN ARPT
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Coastal Flood in KENT, DELAWARE
From 07-OCT-06 10:00:00 to 07-OCT-06 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Coastal Flood in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 06-OCT-06 18:00:00 to 07-OCT-06 10:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Coastal Flood in INLAND SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 06-OCT-06 18:00:00 to 07-OCT-06 11:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Strong Wind in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 06-OCT-06 19:00:00 to 07-OCT-06 04:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 48.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet