Millville · Weather, flooding and hazards

Millville, Delaware: weather, flooding and hazards

Weather, climate, flooding and hazards in Millville, Sussex County, Delaware: 18 questions answered from NOAA, the state and other official sources.

More about Millville

Questions about weather, flooding and hazards in Millville

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

How much snow does Millville get per year?

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

Is Millville in a flood zone?

Part of Millville 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 13 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 Millville 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 Millville 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.

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

The 2020 Census Gazetteer lists Millville at 2.552 square miles of land and 0 square miles of water. Elevation at the Census center point is about 13 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 Millville?

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

When is hurricane season and how do Millville residents get storm alerts?

The Town's public awareness page lists hurricane season as June 1 through November 30. Residents can register for the Delaware Emergency Notification System through DEMA. Source: millville.delaware.gov.

Where are storm shelters for Millville residents?

The Town's public awareness page says to call the American Red Cross at 302-856-2993 or the Sussex County EOC storm line at 302-856-7366 for shelter locations. Source: millville.delaware.gov.

Does Millville have a Know Your Zone evacuation guide?

Yes. The Town's public awareness page links a Know Your Zone PDF for evacuations, along with the Delaware flood planning tool, DNREC's I-ADAPT tool and FEMA's FloodSmart site. The page does not describe evacuation routes. Source: millville.delaware.gov.

Were areas near Millville ordered to evacuate for Hurricane Sandy?

Delaware's October 2012 order covered flood-prone areas along Route 26 and Route 54 and areas around Rehoboth Bay, Indian River and Little Assawoman Bay. Millville was not named, so check an address in Know Your Zone. Source: news.delaware.gov, preparede.org.

What flood levels apply on Little Assawoman Bay near Millville?

The National Weather Service gauge Little Assawoman Bay at Fenwick Island (FEND1) lists minor flooding at 2.5 ft MLLW, moderate at 3.5 ft and major at 4.5 ft. Flooding begins in Fenwick Island, including DE Route 54, at 2.7 ft. Source: api.water.noaa.gov.

What is the nearest NOAA tide gauge to Millville with a long record?

NOAA's Lewes station, established January 14, 1919, is the long-record gauge for Delaware's coast. It lists a sea level trend of 1.49 inches per decade for 1919 to 2025. Lewes is well north of Millville. Source: api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov, api.tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.

What is the average annual temperature near Millville?

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. The station is not in Millville. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many days a year does it rain an inch or more near Millville?

At the Georgetown Sussex Co AP station, NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals list 11.1 days a year with 1 inch or more of rain and 132.2 days with at least 0.01 inch. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

In which months do freezing nights occur near Millville?

At Georgetown Sussex Co AP, NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals show lows of 32 F or colder from October (0.5 days) through April (2.1 days), peaking at 22.3 days in January, and none from May to September. Source: ncei.noaa.gov.

How many hot days does the Millville area get?

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

How is Delaware's sea level rise planning range set?

The Delaware Geological Survey says DNREC's Sea Level Rise Technical Committee set three scenarios relative to 2000 in a 2017 report, with 3.25 ft by 2100 as the intermediate value. Source: dgs.udel.edu.

How warning times differ for a hurricane watch and warning in Delaware?

A Dewey Beach town page explains a hurricane warning means winds of at least 74 mph, high water and storm surge expected in the area within 24 hours. Millville should follow Delaware and Sussex County instructions. Source: townofdeweybeach.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.