(Smyrna) – Delaware continues under the State of Emergency declared yesterday by Governor Jack Markell. Level 1 driving restrictions went into effect at midnight, meaning that all persons operating a motor vehicle shall exercise extra caution in the operation of their motor vehicle.  Non-essential personnel, regardless of whether employed by a public or private entity, are encouraged not to operate a motor vehicle on public roadways when a Level 1 Driving Warning has been activated, unless there is a significant health, safety or business necessity reason for doing so.

The Blizzard Warning is now in effect for New Castle and Kent Counties until 6:00am Sunday.  Total accumulations of 18-24 inches of snow are expected in New Castle County, while Kent County is also forecast to receive 18-24 inches of snow, with 12-18 inches near the shore.  A Winter Weather Warning is now in effect until 6am Sunday for Sussex County with an expected accumulation of 12-18 inches inland, and 8-12 inches along the coast.  Snow will continue heavy at times throughout the day on Saturday in New Castle County before tapering off tonight and early Sunday morning.  Kent and Sussex Counties should see heavy snow at times today, before changing over to periods of sleet and some rain, then quickly change back to all snow before tapering off Sunday morning.

A Coastal Flood Warning is in effect until noon Sunday, for Kent and Sussex Counties.  Widespread major coastal flooding is expected, while major flooding is likely in some areas, especially Sussex County.  The coastal flooding will last for three consecutive high tide cycles, pushing water up against the coast and into back bays and estuaries.

High tide on the Delaware oceanfront will occur between 6:30 and 7:30am Saturday morning, between 7:00 and 8:00pm Saturday evening, and between 7:00 and 8:00am Sunday morning.  High tide on back bays and the Delaware Bay will occur later than along the ocean.  Wave heights in near-shore waters over the weekend are forecast to build as high as 18 to 23 feet, with wave heights on the Delaware Bay as high as 4 to 8 feet.               Some roadway flooding is expected, along with moderate property damage, and significant beach erosion.  People living in flood-prone areas should be prepared for rising water levels and to take appropriate action to protect lives and property.

Roadways across the state are snow covered.  DelDOT trucks are plowing and laying salt on major roads, bridges and toll plazas.  Residents can track the progress of DelDOT plows by watching the snowplow tracker, available at deldot.gov, or on the DelDOT app on a smart phone.

The speed limit on I495 has been reduced to 45 MPH.  Traffic accidents have been reported statewide, mostly property damage, and there are reports of a few disabled vehicles.  Drifting snow is beginning to be a problem in some areas, with a few roads in the Dagsboro and Millsboro areas reported to be impassable.  Abandoned vehicles are making it difficult for plows to open an area of Gravel Hill Road south of Millsboro.

Delaware Transit Corporation fixed route and intercounty service is suspended Saturday, as is paratransit service.  There will be no SEPTA Saturday service operating in Delaware.  AMTRAK is running a modified schedule in the northeast, as the winter storm slams multiple states.

All public school activities in the state for the weekend, including sporting events, have been postponed.

No shelters have been opened at this time.  The Delaware National Guard has pre-positioned personnel and vehicles throughout the state to provide assistance where needed.

There are a small number of power outages in Wilmington and Claymont.  There are also power outages being reported in Sussex County in the Greenwood, Robinsonville, Dewey Beach, Dagsboro/Frankford, South Bethany, Long Neck, and Stockley areas.   High winds and wet snow make the possibility of more downed electric and other utility lines a concern for the weekend.

Snowfall accumulations vary across the state, with the highest reported at 9.7 inches in Port Penn.  Other high amounts include 8.5 inches at West Dover, 8.3 inches at Woodside, and 8.3 inches in New Castle, with the lowest at Lewes where gauges measured 2.4 inches of snow.

Other snow amounts: in New Castle County, 6.3 inches of snow are measured in Talleyville, 5.6 at Glasgow, 5.5 at Greenville, 5.3 at White Clay Creek, 5.2 at Hockessin and Smyrna, 5.1 in Newark, 4.8 at Prices Corner and Claymont and 4.3 at Blackbird.  Kent County has 5.8 inches of snow in Dover, 4.7 in Frederica, and 4.2 in Harrington.  Sussex County has 7.4 inches of snow in Laurel, 5.7 in Ellendale, 4.3 inches at Stockley 4.0 inches in Bridgeville and Selbyville, and 3.6 inches in Seaford.

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