A series of low pressure systems that moved north along a slowly moving cold front brought heavy rain into Delaware on September 30th and October 1st. Event precipitation totals average 4 to 8 inches with the highest amounts in New Castle County. Many streams and rivers in the county flooded and some reached major levels with the highest crests since either September of 2004 or June of 2006. The first round of heavy rain occurred during the early morning of September 30th, but extremely dry antecedent soil conditions were able to absorb the heavy rain and just poor drainage flooding occurred. The second and heavier round of precipitation moved in during the evening of September 30th and continued into the morning of October 1st. The rain ended during the morning of October 1st.
A low pressure system formed along a stationary front off the Carolina Coast during the night of September 29th. At 8 a.m. EDT on September 30th, it moved into central North Carolina and continued to move north.  The low slowly weakened as it moved north and reached Pennsylvania on the evening of September 30th. Another low pressure system formed off the Carolina coast during the late morning of September 30th. This low was able to ingest tropical moisture associated with dissipating Tropical Storm Nicole. At 8 p.m. EDT on the 30th, the low pressure system moved north into eastern North Carolina and at 2 a.m. EDT on October 1st, it moved into the Delmarva Peninsula. At 8 a.m. EDT on October 1st, the low pressure system was just east of Atlantic City on its way to passing through eastern Long Island during the afternoon of October 1st.

Flood in NEW CASTLE, DELAWARE
From 01-OCT-10 00:12:00 to 01-OCT-10 22:22:00 (EST-5)
Location: MILFORD XRDS
Flood cause: Heavy Rain
Property damage: 600.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Emergency Manager

Flooding started early in the morning on October 1st. Governor Jack Markell declared a limited state of emergency in Delaware because of the flooding in Edgemoor.. The worst flood damage occurred in Edgemoor when the Shellpot Creek flooded and tore away a small bridge and gas lines on Colony Boulevard between 2 a.m. EDT and 3 a.m. EDT on the 1st and trapped about 1000 residents in their homes at the Summit Chase Colony North and Las Casas Apartments. In Christina, flooding along the Christina River forced the evacuation of about 25 families along East Main Street. Nineteen families were evacuated from the Kingsmill Mobile Home Park in Kirkwood after a small creek flooded. In Hockessin, houses near Mill Creek had basement flooding. The basement wall of a home on Halcon Drive near New Castle collapsed. Dozens of roads throughout the county flooded and there were numerous water rescues that included ones in Stanton, Newport and Wilmington. A mudslide closed Delaware State Route 141 near Newport. Two school districts closed for the day.

The Brandywine Creek at Wilmington was above its 16.5 foot flood stage from 335 a.m. EDT through 1122 p.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 17.69 feet at 6 p.m. EDT.  The Christina River at Coochs Bridge had major flooding, had its fourth highest crest on record and was the highest crest since September of 2004 with the remnants of Hurricane Jeanne. The river was above its 10.5 foot flood stage from 112 a.m. EDT through 1002 a.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 13.06 feet at 615 a.m. EDT.  The Red Clay Creek at Wooddale had major flooding and tied the fourth highest crest on record. It was the highest crest since June of 2006. The creek was above its 7 foot flood stage from 210 a.m. EDT through 1057 a.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 10.91 feet at 745 a.m. EDT.  Farther downstream,  the Red Clay Creek at Stanton had moderate flooding and its fourth highest crest on record. It was its highest crest since September of 2004 with the remnants of Hurricane Jeanne. The creek was above its 15 foot flood stage from 123 a.m. EDT through 1252 p.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 19.84 feet at 845 a.m. EDT. The White Clay Creek at Newark was above its 13 foot flood stage from 133 a.m. EDT through 136 p.m. EDT on the 1st. It crested at 16.0 feet at 445  a.m. EDT.
Event precipitation totals included 9.32 inches in Claymont, 7.89 inches in Newport, 7.83 inches in Middletown and 7.58 inches at the New Castle County Airport.