Bethel · Weather, flooding and hazards

Bethel, Delaware: weather, flooding and hazards

Weather, climate, flooding and hazards in Bethel, Sussex County, Delaware: 17 questions answered from NOAA, the state and other official sources.

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Questions about weather, flooding and hazards in Bethel

What is the climate like in Bethel, Delaware?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the nearest of the stations we use, the average January low is 28.6 degrees F and the average July high is 87.7 degrees F. Annual precipitation averages 43.88 inches. The station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How much snow does Bethel get per year?

The Georgetown airport normals table we use for Bethel does not publish snowfall. The nearest station we fetched with a 1991 to 2020 snowfall normal is the Salisbury, Maryland (Wicomico Regional Airport) station, at 8.0 inches a year. Treat that as a regional reference, not a measurement for Bethel. Source: ncei.noaa.gov, ncei.noaa.gov.

Is Bethel in a flood zone?

Part of Bethel may sit in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area, and the answer depends on the address, so we do not give a town-wide yes or no. The USGS elevation at the town's Census center point is about 23 feet. Look up a specific property in the FEMA Flood Map Service Center and the DNREC Delaware Flood Planning Tool. Source: msc.fema.gov, floodplanning.dnrec.delaware.gov, epqs.nationalmap.gov.

Is Bethel in a hurricane evacuation zone?

Delaware labels hurricane evacuation zones A, B, C and D, and describes them as low-lying areas susceptible to flooding and storm surge. The state page does not list communities by zone, so we cannot say which zone Bethel or a given address falls in. Use the Know Your Zone lookup tool or interactive map to check an address. Source: preparede.org, dema.delaware.gov.

What body of water is Bethel on?

Bethel is on Broad Creek. The Delaware Public Archives describes the town as a 19th-century trading and shipbuilding community along Broad Creek. Source: archives.delaware.gov.

How big is Bethel and how high above sea level is it?

The 2020 Census Gazetteer lists Bethel at 0.44 square miles of land and 0 square miles of water. Elevation at the Census center point is about 23 feet above sea level (USGS 3DEP), and ground height varies across town. Source: www2.census.gov, epqs.nationalmap.gov.

Which National Weather Service forecast zone covers Bethel?

The National Weather Service (Mount Holly office) places Bethel in forecast zone DEZ003, Inland Sussex, Delaware. This was read from the NWS point forecast page for the town's Census center point. Source: forecast.weather.gov.

Which month is the wettest in Bethel and which is the driest?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, September is the wettest month at 4.54 inches and February is the driest at 2.58 inches. The Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many 90 degree days does Bethel get in a typical year?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the station averages 30.5 days a year with a high of 90 degrees F or more, and 0.5 days at 100 degrees F or more. The Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many days a year does it rain in Bethel?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the station averages 132.2 days a year with at least 0.01 inch of precipitation, 11.1 days with at least 1.00 inch and 2.2 days with at least 2.00 inches. The Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

When are the first and last freezes of the year in Bethel?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, NOAA lists April 4 as the 50 percent probability date for the last spring freeze (32 degrees F or lower) and November 6 for the first fall freeze, a growing season of 217 days at that probability. The Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

What is the average yearly temperature in Bethel?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the annual normal temperature is 57.6 degrees F, with an average daily high of 66.9 and an average daily low of 48.2. The Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many nights a year fall to freezing in Bethel?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the station averages 83.2 days a year with a low of 32 degrees F or colder. The Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How big are heating and cooling needs in Bethel over a year?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the annual normals are 4070.2 heating degree days and 1396.1 cooling degree days, standard measures of how much heating and cooling a year calls for. The Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

What are typical April and October temperatures in Bethel?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station, the average April high is 66.3 degrees F and the low is 45.3. In October the average high is 69.3 and the low is 49.4. The Georgetown Delaware Coastal Airport station is not inside Bethel, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How long would a hurricane evacuation take in Sussex County, where Bethel is?

Delaware's 2023 Sussex County Evacuation Plan says it is estimated to take over 24 hours to evacuate a large population. It also states that approximately ninety percent of Delaware's coastal storm flood-vulnerable housing units (Category 2 hurricane) are in Sussex County. Source: deldot.gov.

Which evacuation routes does the state list near Bethel?

Delaware's 2023 Sussex County Evacuation Plan lists DE 24 among primary east-west evacuation routes and US 13 among primary north-south routes. The plan does not mention Bethel by name. Source: deldot.gov.

How these answers are sourced

Every answer on this page cites an official or primary source, such as the town, a state agency, NOAA or the institution itself. Answers SussexCounty.ai could not confirm from a primary source are left out until they can be.