Important Weather Information

School Closing / Delay Notification Information

School Closing Information System – Review a real-time listing of school closures from across the state of Delaware.

 

School Closing E-mail Registration Website – Subscribe to e-mail, text, and/or voice message notification of school closings and other school status.

 

School Closing Information by Phone – A voice activation system which provides school closing and other school status.
The toll free number is 877-831-7215.

 

 

State Employee Closure / Delay Information

Emergency and Adverse Weather Advisory – Read the latest information for state employees from the Human Resource Management Office.

 

State of Delaware BlackBoard Connect Closing/Delay Notification Registration – This service will allow you to sign up to receive information updates and advisories for Delaware State Government Employees.

 

State of Delaware BlackBoard Connect “How to Register Guide” – View instructions on how to sign up with BlackBoard Connect to receive advisories for Delaware State Government Employees.

 

 

Real Time Traffic Cameras and Road Reports

Live Traffic Cameras – Take a look at where the traffic is heading and have a bird’s eye view of the clear paths to get you where you need to go.

 

Online Subscription Service – Receive DelDOT press releases, scheduled travel restrictions, and real-time travel advisories via e-mail.

 

 

Snowplow Tracker from DelDOT

DelDOT’s Snowplow Tracker – available on the DelDOT mobile app or on their website.

 

 

Subscribe to Weather Related Press Releases

Subscribe on News.delaware.gov – sign up to receive emails when state agencies like DelDOT, DEMA, or the Governor’s office post press releases about weather announcements.

 

 

Weather Resources

 

 

Driving Warnings and Restrictions:

When the weather turns especially hazardous, Delaware has a three-level system of driving warnings and restrictions. Drivers should know the three levels and what they mean.

The levels are found in Title 20 of the Delaware Code, Subsection 3116(b)(12) and may be put in effect by the Governor during a State of Emergency for all or parts of Delaware based on conditions.

 

Level 1:

Driving Warning:  Drivers are discouraged from operating a motor vehicle on the state’s roadways, unless there is a significant safety, health, or business reason to do so. During a level 1 Driving Warning, all citizens are asked to drive with extreme caution.

Level 2:

Driving Restriction: Travel on the roads is restricted to emergency workers, public utilities, healthcare providers including hospital staff, public and private operators of snow removal equipment, private sector food and fuel deliveries. Industries, companies or organizations that have been provided a waiver, are also permitted to be on the road, including businesses with pressing continuity and operational issues.

Level 3:

Driving Ban: Complete ban on driving except for first responders, utility personnel, and public or private snow removal. Businesses and organizations should adjust work schedules so that employees do not need to be on the roads during a Level 3 Driving Ban.

Level 3 Bans are different from Level 2 Restrictions in that Level 2 allows people with waivers and essential personnel to remain on the road, whereas a Level 3 Bans are much stricter, only allowing emergency personnel.

 

 

Essential Personnel

Level 2 Driving Restriction: essential personnel include those who are necessary state personnel or those who provide healthcare services, food deliveries, and fuel deliveries during a state of emergency in both public and private industries.  

 

Level 3 Driving Ban: includes first responders, some state employees (i.e. policemen, utility workers), people the governor has approved through executive order and operator of snowplows or debris removal equipment that have been hired by the state or private interests.

 

For information on attaining driving waivers here is DEMA’s page on Online Waiver and Exemption Applications


Storm Report #4 – Wednesday Midday January 22 (11:30am)

(Smyrna) – The State of Emergency in Delaware was lifted by Governor Jack Markell at 10am this morning, along with the Level 1 Driving Warning.  All state offices are closed today, during the regular business hours of 8am to 4:30pm.  Non-essential state employees are not to report for work during this period, while essential employees should report as scheduled.  Government offices in all three counties as well as the cities of Wilmington, Newark, Dover and others across the state also closed today.

Winds will be 15-20 MPH today with gusts up to 30 MPH.  Bitterly cold air will through the remainder of the week and temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing until Saturday.  The cold and wind are combining to create dangerous wind chills.

Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) reports that salt is ineffective on roads when temperatures are in the single digits, and crews are working against winds that blow snow back onto cleared roads.  Major roads in New Castle and Kent Counties are covered with ice and slush, and the speed limit on I495 and the Roth Bridge (SR 1) is reduced to 45 MPH.  The snow ended later in Sussex County this morning where roads are wet with light snow and minimal accumulation.   Travel will remain hazardous due to snow covered roadways and drifting, and those conditions will continue throughout the day Wednesday.  The commute on Wednesday afternoon will be impacted by blowing and drifting snow, especially in open areas.

There were a total of 1,721 power outages across the state, with most occurring this morning when 1686 Delaware Electric Cooperative customers in Sussex County lost electricity.  As of 11am, fewer than 500 customers of Delmarva Power and Delaware Electric Cooperative are without power.

All school districts in Delaware are closed today.  Wednesday, January 22nd.  Some colleges and universities have posted their status on school websites, with Wilmington University and Goldey-Beacom and Wesley Colleges closed.  Delaware Technical and Community College Stanton, Wilmington, Terry and Owens campuses are closed.  The University of Delaware will be opening at noon.


Traffic Safety News – Drive Safely to Work Week

Every year OHS supports the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety’s yearly traffic safety campaign, Drive Safely to Work Week. This year, join us in getting Back to Basics. Simply put, it means focusing on driving the car instead of multi-tasking.  Remember when you were a young driver, and it took all of your senses to drive:  both hands on the wheel, both eyes on the road, mind completely on the task of driving? NETS would like us to remember experience does not necessarily make a better driver.

What you need to know

Many employees commute in the first state.  The average commute time for Delawareans is 24.3 minutes, which is nearly 50 minutes on the road each work day.  Here are some interesting facts that you should know:

  • 900,000 people live in the state of Delaware; of those, 653,141 are licensed drivers.
  • On average, 80% of workers who commute drive alone.
  • In 2011, there were 5,204 personal injury crashes and 97 fatal crashes.
  • In the same year, 1 out of every 25 licensed drivers was involved in a traffic crash.

What you can do

Since the average person spends a significant amount of time driving to and from work, NETS would like to remind each of us to remember the keys of safe driving:

  • Always buckle up. It only takes a few seconds to do the one thing that will keep you safest in the event of a crash.
  • Drive with a clear head. Drowsy driving can be as dangerous as impaired driving.
  • Avoid distractions. Distractions come in many forms, eliminate as many of them as possible.
  • Know the basics of parking and backing. Many crashes can be avoided by simply by being aware of blind spots.
  • Review the fundamentals. Go back to the basics of safe driving, including:  mirror placement, scanning the environment around your vehicle, and signaling your intentions.

For more information on DSWW and to get a free information kit, go to www.trafficsafety.org.

Drive Safe.  Arrive Alive DE.

This message is brought to you by the Office of Highway Safety, who asks you to drive safely at all times.  For more information on this and other traffic safety programs, go to www.ohs.delaware.gov.