Fenwick Island · Weather, flooding and hazards

Fenwick Island, Delaware: weather, flooding and hazards

Weather, climate, flooding and hazards in Fenwick Island, Sussex County, Delaware: 24 questions answered from NOAA, the state and other official sources.

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Questions about weather, flooding and hazards in Fenwick Island

What is the climate like in Fenwick Island, Delaware?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals from the Lewes station, the nearest of the stations we use, the average January low is 30.2 degrees F and the average July high is 87.7 degrees F. Annual precipitation averages 47.28 inches. The station is not inside Fenwick Island, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How much snow does Fenwick Island get per year?

The 1991 to 2020 normal for the Lewes station, the nearest station we use, is 10.5 inches of snow a year. Individual winters vary a lot around that average. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

Is Fenwick Island in a flood zone?

Part of Fenwick Island 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 3 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 Fenwick Island 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 Fenwick Island 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 Fenwick Island on?

Fenwick Island is a narrow strip of land with the Atlantic Ocean on the east and Little Assawoman Bay on the west. The Delaware Public Archives notes that inlets once let ships sail from the Atlantic into Little Assawoman Bay. Source: archives.delaware.gov.

How big is Fenwick Island and how high above sea level is it?

The 2020 Census Gazetteer lists Fenwick Island at 0.331 square miles of land and 0.153 square miles of water. Elevation at the Census center point is about 3 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 Fenwick Island?

The National Weather Service (Mount Holly office) places Fenwick Island in forecast zone DEZ004, Delaware Beaches, 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 Fenwick Island and which is the driest?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, July is the wettest month at 4.95 inches and February is the driest at 3.17 inches. The Lewes station is not inside Fenwick Island, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

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

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, the station averages 29.2 days a year with a high of 90 degrees F or more, and 0.8 days at 100 degrees F or more. The Lewes station is not inside Fenwick Island, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

When are the first and last freezes of the year in Fenwick Island?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, NOAA lists March 29 as the 50 percent probability date for the last spring freeze (32 degrees F or lower) and November 14 for the first fall freeze, a growing season of 231 days at that probability. The Lewes station is not inside Fenwick Island, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

Which month is snowiest in Fenwick Island?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, February is the snowiest month at 6.5 inches, followed by January at 2.0 inches. Individual winters vary a lot. The Lewes station is not inside Fenwick Island, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many days a year does it rain in Fenwick Island?

Using NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals from the Lewes station, the station averages 124.1 days a year with at least 0.01 inch of precipitation, 13.5 days with at least 1.00 inch and 2.3 days with at least 2.00 inches. The Lewes station is not inside Fenwick Island, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

What should I do if caught in a rip current at Fenwick Island?

The National Weather Service says to stay calm, not fight the current and not try to swim directly to shore. Swim parallel to the shoreline until out of the current, then angle toward shore, and if you cannot reach shore, face the shore and call or wave for help. Source: weather.gov.

How fast is sea level rising near Fenwick Island?

Fenwick Island is on the Atlantic 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 fast is sea level rising at Ocean City, the tide gauge nearest Fenwick Island?

NOAA's Ocean City tide gauge (station 8570283, Ocean City Inlet, Maryland) shows a relative sea level trend of 5.26 millimeters per year, plus or minus 0.36, using data from 1975 to 2025. That is a shorter record than Lewes, which shows 3.78 millimeters per year from 1919 to 2025. Source: api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov, api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.

How high are normal high tides at the Lewes tide gauge?

NOAA lists mean higher-high water at Lewes at 7.43 feet and a mean tide range of 4.08 feet, both against the station datum for the 1983 to 2001 epoch. The highest observed water level there was 12.037 feet on January 23, 2016. Source: api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.

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

Fenwick Island is on the Atlantic coast, and the nearest National Weather Service gauge for Sussex County coastal flooding 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.

Which way would Fenwick Island traffic be routed in a hurricane evacuation?

Delaware's 2023 Sussex County Evacuation Plan says Fenwick Island is "routed west on Route 54 towards Selbyville." The town's own plan says police secure Route 1 north, Route 1 south and Bunting Avenue at Atlantic Avenue after notifications. Source: deldot.gov, fenwickisland.delaware.gov.

How does the Fenwick Island emergency plan stage a hurricane evacuation?

The town plan lists threat phases at 72 to 48 hours, 48 to 24 hours (Storm Watch) and 24 hours out, when evacuation is ordered. Evacuation is phased by Hurricane Evacuation Study zones: flood and surge areas and special needs residents first, then tourists and vulnerable populations, then all zones. Source: fenwickisland.delaware.gov.

What ID do I need to re-enter Fenwick Island after an evacuation?

The town plan accepts any one of: a driver's license with a Town address, a property tax bill, a Town employee pass or a utility bill, all from the current calendar year. It says re-entry will be denied without proper identification, and it admits essential personnel first and the general public last. Source: fenwickisland.delaware.gov.

Where would Fenwick Island residents shelter in a storm?

The town plan lists the Sussex County shelter list, inland hurricane shelters if the Governor authorizes them, and hotels and motels. It also names Selbyville Town Hall as the temporary town hall for emergency operations. Source: fenwickisland.delaware.gov.

Does Fenwick Island get a flood insurance discount?

Yes. The town participates in FEMA's Community Rating System and holds a Class 9 rating, which gives qualifying property owners a 5% discount on flood insurance premiums. The town also notes it is in an area subject to repetitive loss. Source: fenwickisland.delaware.gov.

Is there a flood gauge in Fenwick Island?

The town's flood information page cites a Madison Ave. flood gauge, USGS site 01484701, that reports data referenced to NAVD88. The town's emergency plan also says the town financially supports tide gauges for advance flood notice. Source: fenwickisland.delaware.gov, fenwickisland.delaware.gov.

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

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.