Winter storm warning continues into Tuesday
A winter storm warning remains in effect for Sussex County through 4 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7. So far, officials say, nearly 8 inches of snow have fallen in parts of Sussex County, with the potential for another 2 to 4 inches to fall into Monday night before tapering off. In total, a large swath of Sussex County could see as much as a foot of snow, with higher amounts possible in some pockets, from the first winter storm to hit southern Delaware since 2022.
After the storm departs late tonight or early Tuesday, officials said, gusty winds are expected to rush in on the back side, along with cold air sinking temperatures into the teens, leading to blowing and drifting snow, wind chills in the single digits, and a heightened chance for black ice on area roadways, possibly through much of the workweek.
“Thankfully, so far, this event is not creating a host of major problems,” said Sussex County Emergency Manager/Deputy Director of Public Safety Timothy R. Cooper in a press release. “We’re fortunate that it’s remained all snow for the moment, with little to no mixing that could have really caused problems for trees and power lines. We still have a few hours to go, but all in all, Sussex County is faring pretty well right now.”
Travel, however, is expected to remain difficult through the day and into the night, likely extending into Tuesday, officials said. With most government offices, schools, and many businesses closed today, officials said they are hopeful that the public heeds the advice of emergency planners and forecasters, and avoids unnecessary travel in the next 24 hours so as to allow DelDOT crews to do their plowing work on area roadways.
Sussex County Emergency Management continues to monitor this situation and is working closely with other local and state governmental agencies. Additional staff have been called in to the county Emergency Operations Center and paramedic stations to assist with any issues that may arise during and after the event. The county EOC remains on limited activation with key partners, including representatives from state agencies and major utilities, on site.
For the latest list of road closures, visit the Delaware Department of Transportation website at deldot.gov. To view a map of power outages in Sussex County, visit Delmarva Power’s website at delmarva.com and the Delaware Electric Cooperative website at delaware.coop.
Stay tuned to local media, as well as the Sussex County website at sussexcountyde.gov. The public also should monitor the National Weather Service at weather.gov/phi for the latest forecasts. Meantime, Sussex County offers a variety of social media outlets to relay the latest storm information. Follow along on Facebook at Facebook.com/SussexCountyDE and Facebook.com/SussexCountyEmergencyManagement, and on Twitter at twitter.com/sussexde_govt and x.com/SussexCtyDE_EM. Updates will be issued as needed.
Sussex County reminds the public to only call 9-1-1 in an emergency. Members of the public who have questions regarding this information should contact Sussex County Emergency Management at 302-856-7360.
