The tornado that tore through parts of Sussex County on Saturday has been rated an EF-3 on the on the Enhanced Fujita scale, the National Weather Service announced Monday evening.
No other tornado in Delaware has been ranked this high since 1961, and it’s the first tornado to cause a death in the First State in about 40 years.
Bridgeville tornado traveled to Ellendale
In its latest report, the National Weather Service said the tornado officially touched down in Bridgeville at 5:59 p.m. on Saturday. Over the course of about 20 minutes, the tornado traveled 14.3 miles before stopping in Ellendale, according to the National Weather Service.
At its widest, the tornado spanned almost half a mile and winds reached 140 mph.
The National Weather Service said the tornado began at Poulk and Dublin Hill roads where it blew the roof off a barn. It then moved east across Route 404, knocking down trees and power lines along the way as it blew toward Ellendale.
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A two-story house near Precious Lane and Newton Road slid off its foundation and collapsed, and debris was flung into fields several hundred feet away, according to the National Weather Service.
Damage to Delaware Department of Transportation building
The tornado continued east, reaching a Delaware Department of Transportation facility and snapping utility poles along the nearby railroad tracks. Meteorologists said this is likely where the winds were strongest, with the 140 mph winds doing “significant damage” to the DelDOT building. Roofs collapsed, windows were blown out and walls were damaged.
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The tornado intensified again on Fawn Road after it knocked over two irrigation pivots, uprooting trees and shattering windows of homes along the residential street. The tornado continued to damage homes and trees as it went through the area, reaching its widest at Tuckers Road, near where state police said a person died.
From there, the National Weather Service said the tornado had a “fairly steady intensity” as it blew toward Ellendale, blowing over trees and causing more property damage along the way.
Tornado dissipated after Ellendale
The winds eventually weakened as the tornado moved away from downtown Ellendale, and the National Weather Service said it officially dissipated at 6:19 p.m. after knocking over an irrigation pivot near Hummingbird and Benson Roads.
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The National Weather Service said it is not aware of any other serious injuries, other than the single fatality.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at hedelman@delawareonline.com. For more reporting, follow them on Twitter at @h_edelman.
