Tornado Watch New Castle County and NWS Damage Assessments

A tornado watch New Castle County on Thursday, November 12, ended with a confirmed tornado near Christiana Hospital, Delaware. The National Weather Service confirmed the touchdown after severe thunderstorms brought damaging winds, hail, and fallen trees to the area. Several properties in Newark also reported storm damage.

Tornado watch New Castle County confirmed

The severe weather threat developed early Thursday afternoon as thunderstorms moved across northern Delaware. 

At 12:50 p.m. EST, the Storm Prediction Center issued Tornado Watch 705, covering New Castle County and parts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The NWS Mount Holly office then issued a Tornado Warning at 1:13 p.m. for northeastern New Castle County. Radar showed a rotating storm near Stanton and Newark, moving northeast at approximately 25 mph. 

Read more: Storm on radar

The warning included Wilmington, Elsmere, Newport, New Castle and nearby communities, as well as sections of Interstate 95.

Forecasters canceled the warning at 1:31 p.m. after the immediate threat weakened. 

The Tornado Watch was also later removed for New Castle County at approximately 3:27 p.m., although the broader regional watch continued for other areas until 7 p.m.

Following the storm, the NWS confirmed that a tornado had touched down near Christiana Hospital, southeast of Eastburn Heights, around 1:15 p.m. Thursday.

Preliminary storm reports documented several areas of damage. Trained spotters reported fallen trees in the Salem Woods neighborhood, along with downed power lines and minor structural damage near Woodshade. 

Additional reports described damage around Christiana Hospital, where a medical helicopter lost a rotor.

The NWS planned a detailed storm survey for Friday, November 13, to establish the tornado's path, width, and intensity. Its official Enhanced Fujita (EF) rating had not been released in the initial reports.

The event also stood out because November tornadoes are uncommon in Delaware. 

NOAA records indicate that this was only the second November tornado event recorded in the state since 1950, with the previous occurrence on November 16, 1989.

Tornado Warning and Severe Thunderstorm Warning zones over Wilmington, Newark, and Bear (Photo: Storm Tracker)

The storm left visible damage in several parts of Newark. At ChristianaCare's Newark campus, officials reported minor property damage and damage to a medical helicopter.

However, healthcare services continued without interruption.

At the Sonesta ES Suites Wilmington/Newark on Chapman Avenue, a large hotel sign fell onto two parked cars during the storm. 

Fallen trees, damaged fences and downed wires were also reported nearby. Initial reports did not establish a confirmed injury count.

The storms also produced hail across the county. NWS storm reports recorded hail measuring up to 1.5 inches in diameter near Newark, adding another hazard to the severe weather outbreak.

November tornadoes are uncommon in Delaware

The severe weather system moved through the Philadelphia region, affecting communities in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 

Heavy rainfall, strong winds and hail accompanied the storms, while additional tornado activity was reported or investigated elsewhere in the region.

For Friday, November 13, the forecast for New Castle County calls for cooler conditions, with a daytime high near 47°F (8°C). 

Rain is expected during the day, while northwest winds may produce gusts around 20 mph. Temperatures could fall to around 29°F (-2°C) overnight.

Use GoWeatherRadar's interactive radar map to monitor local precipitation, track approaching rain bands and check changing radar conditions.

Although the tornado alerts associated with Thursday's storms have ended for New Castle County, residents should continue following official NWS updates. 

A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for tornado development, while a Tornado Warning indicates a tornado has been spotted or detected by radar. 

If a new warning is issued, move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building and stay away from windows.

References

1. NBC Philadelphia

2. Delaware online

3. CBS News

4. Philly Burbs

5. Town Square LIVE News