🌤️ Delmarva Afternoon Update — Tuesday, July 21, 2026
SPC has upgraded the southern Delmarva to an Enhanced Risk, and a Tornado Watch is now in effect for New Castle County until 9 PM.
What's Changed Since This Morning: The severe threat has ramped up. SPC bumped Chincoteague and the southern tip from Slight to Enhanced Risk on the Day 1 outlook. NWS Mount Holly issued a Tornado Watch for New Castle County through 9 PM, and Severe Thunderstorm Watches now blanket nearly the entire peninsula until 10 PM. Flood Watches have also expanded across Wicomico, Somerset, Inland Worcester, Accomack, and Northampton.
Current Severe Weather Picture: An Enhanced Risk covers Wilmington, Dover, Lewes, Salisbury, Ocean City, and Chincoteague — damaging wind, hail, and a tornado threat all on the table this afternoon and evening. NWS AFDs from Mount Holly and Wakefield flag localized flash flooding as the secondary concern given slow-moving cells and saturated ground. Tomorrow drops to a Slight Risk from Lewes south to Cape Charles.
Active Watches & Warnings:
- Tornado Watch — New Castle, DE until 9 PM
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch — Kent & Sussex DE, Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne's, Talbot MD until 10 PM
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch — Cecil, MD until 10 PM
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch — Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico, Worcester MD, Accomack VA until 10 PM
- Flood Watch — New Castle, DE until 2 AM Wednesday
- Flood Watch — Wicomico, Somerset, Inland Worcester until 6 PM Wednesday
- Flood Watch — Accomack, Northampton VA until midnight Wednesday night
Through Tonight: Storms fire through the evening with the greatest severe and flash flood risk between now and about 10 PM. PoPs run 69–89% peninsula-wide, with highs already logged in the mid-to-upper 80s and gusty south winds 15–20 mph along the coast at Ocean City and Chincoteague.
Bottom Line: Have a way to receive warnings tonight — this is the peak severe window for Delmarva.
— US Weather Warriors 🌪️ #DelmarvaWeather #DEwx #MDwx #VAwx