Dagsboro · Weather, flooding and hazards

Dagsboro, Delaware: weather, flooding and hazards

Weather, climate, flooding and hazards in Dagsboro, Sussex County, Delaware: 20 questions answered from NOAA, the state and other official sources.

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Questions about weather, flooding and hazards in Dagsboro

What is the climate like in Dagsboro, 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 Dagsboro, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How much snow does Dagsboro get per year?

The Georgetown airport normals table we use for Dagsboro does not publish snowfall. The nearest station we fetched with a 1991 to 2020 snowfall normal is the Lewes station, at 10.5 inches a year. Treat that as a regional reference, not a measurement for Dagsboro. Source: ncei.noaa.gov, ncei.noaa.gov.

Is Dagsboro in a flood zone?

Part of Dagsboro 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 only about 11 feet, which is low ground. 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 Dagsboro 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 Dagsboro 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 Dagsboro on?

Dagsboro began as a village at the headwater of Pepper Creek, and the town says it grew up on a tributary of the Indian River. The Census Gazetteer lists 0 square miles of water area within town limits. Source: archives.delaware.gov, dagsboro.delaware.gov, www2.census.gov.

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

The 2020 Census Gazetteer lists Dagsboro at 1.438 square miles of land and 0 square miles of water. Elevation at the Census center point is about 11 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 Dagsboro?

The National Weather Service (Mount Holly office) places Dagsboro 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 Dagsboro 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 Dagsboro, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many 90 degree days does Dagsboro 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 Dagsboro, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many days a year does it rain in Dagsboro?

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 Dagsboro, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

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

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 Dagsboro, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

What is the average yearly temperature in Dagsboro?

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 Dagsboro, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many nights a year fall to freezing in Dagsboro?

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 Dagsboro, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

What are typical April and October temperatures in Dagsboro?

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 Dagsboro, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How long would a hurricane evacuation take in Sussex County, where Dagsboro 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.

Is Dagsboro an evacuation destination for coastal towns?

Yes. Delaware's 2023 Sussex County Evacuation Plan says South Bethany and Bethany Beach traffic "will be routed west on Route 26 towards Dagsboro," and it lists Dagsboro among the destinations. DE 20 and DE 26 are on its primary east-west evacuation route list. Source: deldot.gov.

Who can answer flood insurance questions for Dagsboro property owners?

The Town of Dagsboro's flood zone page points to FEMA's Map Service Center at msc.fema.gov for flood hazard maps and to the National Flood Insurance Program Help Center at 1-800-427-4661. The page does not list zones or a Community Rating System class. Source: dagsboro.delaware.gov.

What hurricane preparedness material does Dagsboro's website offer?

The town's Hurricane Preparedness page offers three 2015 PDFs: a FEMA Region III Hurricane Preparedness Toolkit, Ready Campaign social media tools and an AP preparedness guide. The page lists no evacuation zones or shelters, and the files are from 2015, so check current state guidance. Source: dagsboro.delaware.gov.

What water level counts as coastal flooding on the nearest National Weather Service tide gauge to Dagsboro?

Dagsboro is inland but near Indian River Bay, and the nearest National Weather Service coastal flood gauge for Sussex County is at Lewes. The National Weather Service gauge Delaware Bay at Lewes (Mount Holly office) lists flood stages of 6 feet minor, 7 feet moderate and 8 feet major, measured against MLLW. Its impact notes say minor flooding at 6.2 to 6.8 feet affects Dewey Beach, Broadkill Beach, Rehoboth Beach and Milford, and widespread roadway flooding in coastal Sussex County begins at 7 feet. Source: api.water.noaa.gov.

How fast is sea level rising near Dagsboro?

Dagsboro drains toward Indian River Bay, and regional tide gauges show the trend for the Delaware coast. NOAA's Lewes tide gauge (station 8557380) shows a relative sea level trend of 3.78 millimeters per year, plus or minus 0.13, using data from 1919 to 2025. That is 1.49 inches per decade and it includes local land motion. Source: api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.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.