A northeaster brought heavy rain, strong winds, rough surf and tidal flooding to Delaware on the 22nd and 23rd (Thanksgiving Day) and hit Sussex County the hardest. The rain and strong winds arrived together, just before sunrise on the 22nd. The rain fell at its steadiest and heaviest for about a 24 hour period from 7 a.m. EST on the 22nd through 7 a.m. EST on the 23rd. Storm totals averaged around two inches. Winds remained strong throughout the day on the 22nd and peaked during that evening. Winds diminished on the 23rd. The strong onshore flow caused minor tidal flooding during the morning high tides on the 22nd and 23rd. This extended into the back bays and in Delaware Bay. The strong winds also caused a pounding, heavy surf on both days.
The strong winds hampered firefighters as they were fighting a blaze in a single family home in Milton (Sussex County) on the 22nd. Ferry service between Lewes (Sussex County) and Cape May was curtailed on the 22nd and 23rd because of the high winds. The strong winds tangled holiday lights in the trees at Rehoboth Beach (Sussex County). The pounding surf caused moderate to severe beach erosion along the Delaware Coast. High tides at Bethany Beach (Sussex County) were under the boardwalk. Waves reached 12.7 feet at Bethany Beach and seas reached 22.7 feet at the Delaware Light Buoy located about 20 miles off the Delaware Coast. The latter was a new record for the month of November.
Peak wind gusts reached 55 mph at Breakwater Harbor (Sussex County). Tides reached 6.94 feet above mean lower low water at the harbor. Minor tidal flooding starts at 6.7 feet above mean lower low water. Storm totals included 2.50 inches in Georgetown (Sussex County), 2.22 inches in Redden (Sussex County), 1.91 inches in Millville (Sussex County), 1.87 inches in Bethany Beach (Sussex County), 1.62 inches in Kitts Hummock (Kent County) and 1.45 inches at the Dover Air Force Base (Kent County).
The Northeaster developed along the South Carolina coastal waters on the 20th and remained nearly stationary as it intensified on the 21st. At 7 a.m. EST on the 22nd, it was located near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Meanwhile, a high pressure system moved into New York and northern New England. The big pressure difference (gradient) between the two systems increased the onshore flow winds. Neither system weakened or moved much on the 22nd. At 7 a.m. EST on the 23rd, a slightly weaker northeaster had moved north to the Virginia coastal waters. The high pressure system though moved into the Canadian Maritimes. The greater distance between the two systems, helped both the winds and heavy rain to diminish. By 7 p.m. EST on the 23rd, the northeaster was located about 200 miles east of Atlantic City, New Jersey and by 7 a.m. EST on the 24th, it was just south of Nova Scotia.

Strong Wind in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 22-NOV-06 06:00:00 to 22-NOV-06 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 48.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in INLAND SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 22-NOV-06 06:00:00 to 22-NOV-06 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 40.00 EG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Coastal Flood in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 22-NOV-06 08:00:00 to 23-NOV-06 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Coastal Flood in INLAND SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 22-NOV-06 08:00:00 to 23-NOV-06 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

Coastal Flood in KENT, DELAWARE
From 22-NOV-06 08:00:00 to 23-NOV-06 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: C-MAN Station

High Surf in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 22-NOV-06 03:00:00 to 23-NOV-06 23:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Heavy Rain in SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 22-NOV-06 07:00:00 to 23-NOV-06 07:00:00 (EST-5)
Location: FENWICK IS
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet