Frankford · Weather, flooding and hazards
Frankford, Delaware: weather, flooding and hazards
Weather, climate, flooding and hazards in Frankford, Sussex County, Delaware: 18 questions answered from NOAA, the state and other official sources.
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Questions about weather, flooding and hazards in Frankford
What is the climate like in Frankford, 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 Frankford, so readings in town can differ a little, especially near the water. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How much snow does Frankford get per year?
The Georgetown airport normals table we use for Frankford 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 Frankford. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
Is Frankford in a flood zone?
Part of Frankford 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 32 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 Frankford 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 Frankford 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 Frankford on?
The Census Bureau 2020 Gazetteer lists 0 square miles of water within Frankford town limits. We found no official source naming a river, bay or ocean that the town sits on, so we do not list one. Source: www2.census.gov.
How big is Frankford and how high above sea level is it?
The 2020 Census Gazetteer lists Frankford at 0.729 square miles of land and 0 square miles of water. Elevation at the Census center point is about 32 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 Frankford?
The National Weather Service (Mount Holly office) places Frankford 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 Frankford 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 Frankford, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How many 90 degree days does Frankford 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 Frankford, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How many days a year does it rain in Frankford?
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 Frankford, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
When are the first and last freezes of the year in Frankford?
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 Frankford, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
What is the average yearly temperature in Frankford?
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 Frankford, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How many nights a year fall to freezing in Frankford?
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 Frankford, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How big are heating and cooling needs in Frankford 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 Frankford, so readings in town can differ. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.
How long would a hurricane evacuation take in Sussex County, where Frankford 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 Frankford?
Delaware's 2023 Sussex County Evacuation Plan lists US 113 and SR 1 among primary north-south evacuation routes and DE 20, DE 24, DE 54, DE 26, DE 404 and DE 16 among primary east-west routes. The plan does not name Frankford, so check your own zone and the DEMA announcements at the time. Source: deldot.gov.
What water level counts as coastal flooding on the nearest National Weather Service tide gauge to Frankford?
Frankford is inland, so 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 Frankford?
Frankford is inland, but 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.