GEORGETOWN — A raging nor’easter is battering Sussex County today.
According to Sussex County Emergency operations, there was a near-record level of 9.2 feet at Lewes at the 8 a.m. high tide — just shy of the 9.22-foot record set in the historic March 1962 nor’easter.
Numerous dune breaches have occurred along the Atlantic coast, forcing the closure of SR 1 south of Dewey Beach; low-lying communities around the Inland Bays are experiencing significant flooding; and nearly 8,000 Delaware Electric Cooperative and Delmarva Power customers are without power throughout the county, largely due to downed trees and power lines, according to a news release from the Sussex emergency center.
The storm is expected to continue for another 18 hours.
The center anticipates tidal flooding in coastal areas running more than 4 feet above normal. Winds of 50 mph, with gusts to hurricane-force of 74 mph, are possible into Saturday night.
Sussex County and Delaware emergency planners have designated Sussex Central High School, near Georgetown, as a shelter. It opened at noon.