A strong nor'easter caused strong winds as well as minor to locally moderate tidal flooding in Upper Delaware Bay and moderate tidal flooding in Lower Delaware Bay and Atlantic Coastal Delaware on the 9th. The nor'easter also caused minor to moderate beach erosion. Peak wind gusts averaged 45 to 50 mph along coastal Delaware and knocked down weak trees, tree limbs and power lines. The strong winds blew sand across the northbound lanes of Delaware State Route 1 north of the Indian River Inlet Bridge. Beach erosion caused a 4.5 foot drop to the beach in Kitts Hummock (Kent County), beach losses at Broadkill Beach (Sussex County) and a one foot drop to the beach at Dewey Beach (Sussex County). Six to seven foot waves were observed.
Because of the onshore flow around a surface high moving across Canada and spring tides with the departing full moon, minor tidal flooding started with the morning tide cycles on the 7th and 8th. But, they peaked with the high tide cycle on the morning of the 9th with the arrival of the nor'easter. In Sussex County, tidal flooding sent water onto Prime Hook Road north of Broadkill Beach. In Dewey Beach, Rehoboth Bay flooding sent water onto Read Street. Coastal flooding also affected Delaware State Route 1 south of Dewey Beach. In Lewes, the Lewes and Rehoboth Canal overflowed and sent water onto Savannah Road (U.S. Route 9) and American Legion Road.  Highest tides included 7.07 feet above mean lower low water at Lewes (Sussex County). The moderate tidal flooding threshold is 7.0 feet above mean lower low water. Peak wind gusts included 50 mph at Lewes (Sussex County) and 47 mph at Dewey Beach (Sussex County).
The strong winds and moderate coastal flooding were caused by an intensifying nor'easter low pressure system. The pressure gradient (difference) was already in place with a high pressure system over the Canadian Maritimes. Meanwhile, the low pressure system formed off the Carolina coastal waters on the 8th. It tracked northward and deepened (intensified) as it reached the Delmarva coastal waters at 7 a.m. EST on the 9th. The low pressure system deepened an additional twelve millibars during the next six hours and was off the New Jersey coastal waters at 1 p.m. EST on the 9th. The low pressure system stopped intensifying and drifted off to the northeast reaching the Rhode Island coastal waters during the evening of the 9th and eastern Massachusetts around Midnight EST on the 10th. Once this intensification process stopped, so did the strong winds and the 9th was the last high tide cycle in which coastal flooding occurred.

Coastal Flood in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 09-DEC-14 08:00:00 to 09-DEC-14 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: WLON

Coastal Flood in INLAND SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 09-DEC-14 08:00:00 to 09-DEC-14 12:00:00 (EST-5)
Property damage: 0.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: WLON

Strong Wind in DELAWARE BEACHES, DELAWARE
From 09-DEC-14 04:00:00 to 09-DEC-14 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 41.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet

Strong Wind in INLAND SUSSEX, DELAWARE
From 09-DEC-14 04:00:00 to 09-DEC-14 08:00:00 (EST-5)
Magnitude: 43.00 MG
Property damage: 5.00K
Crop damage: 0.00K
Reported by: Mesonet