Georgetown, Delaware: weather, flooding and hazards

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Questions about weather, flooding and hazards in Georgetown

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

How much snow does Georgetown get per year?

The Georgetown airport normals table we use for Georgetown 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 Georgetown. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

Is Georgetown in a flood zone?

Part of Georgetown 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 51 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 Georgetown 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 Georgetown 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 Georgetown on?

The Census Bureau 2020 Gazetteer lists 0 square miles of water within Georgetown 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 Georgetown and how high above sea level is it?

The 2020 Census Gazetteer lists Georgetown at 5.022 square miles of land and 0 square miles of water. Elevation at the Census center point is about 51 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 Georgetown?

The National Weather Service (Mount Holly office) places Georgetown 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.

What is the average annual temperature in Georgetown, Delaware?

NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals for the Georgetown Sussex Co AP station list 57.6 F as the annual mean, with July at 78.6 F and January at 36.9 F. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many 90 degree days does Georgetown get?

NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals for Georgetown Sussex Co AP list 30.4 days a year with a high of 90 F or more and 0.5 days at 100 F or more. July has the most, at 12.1 days. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many freezing nights does Georgetown have each year?

NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals for Georgetown Sussex Co AP list 83.2 days a year with a low of 32 F or colder. January has the most, at 22.3 days, and May through September have none. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How much rain does Georgetown get in a year and which month is wettest?

NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals for Georgetown Sussex Co AP list 43.88 inches of precipitation a year. September is the wettest month at 4.54 inches and February the driest at 2.58 inches. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many days a year does Georgetown get an inch of rain or more?

NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals for Georgetown Sussex Co AP list 11.1 days a year with 1.00 inch or more of precipitation and 132.2 days with at least 0.01 inch. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

What are the heating and cooling degree days for Georgetown?

NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals for Georgetown Sussex Co AP list 4070 heating degree days and 1396 cooling degree days a year, both on a 65 F base. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

Has a tornado hit near Georgetown recently?

The National Weather Service rated the April 1, 2023 Bridgeville to Ellendale tornado EF-3, with estimated peak winds of 140 mph, a 14.3 mile path and a maximum width of 700 yards. It caused 1 fatality and 0 injuries. Source: weather.gov.

What is the most common severe weather in Delaware?

The Delaware Climate Office says strong winds from severe thunderstorms are the most common type of severe weather in Delaware. It also says the state averages 2 to 3 reports of large hail each year and that tornadoes are not common. Source: climate.udel.edu.

When do nor'easters peak in Delaware?

The Delaware Climate Office says coastal storms of the nor'easter type peak in March and are least frequent in November. Its records for these storms go back to 1945. Source: climate.udel.edu.

What is Delaware's record low temperature?

The National Weather Service Mount Holly history page lists a drop to -17 F at Millsboro, Delaware, on January 17, 1893, as the state record low. Millsboro is in Sussex County, as Georgetown is. Source: weather.gov.

How much warning is given before storm surge from a tropical storm?

The National Weather Service says a storm surge watch is generally issued within 48 hours of possible life-threatening flooding, and a storm surge warning generally within 36 hours. Source: weather.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.