Delaware is closing state workplaces and ratcheting up driving restrictions to incorporate bans the night time of Sunday, Feb. 22 as hundreds are with out energy because the blizzard begins setting in.
Officers introduced that state workplaces in all three counties will probably be closed Feb. 23 beginning at midnight up till 11:59 p.m.
Non-essential workers are to not report back to work throughout this era, the state mentioned. Important workers designated for extreme climate are to report as scheduled.
Kelly’s Logan Home closed early because the snowstorm started on the night time of February 22, 2026.
Blizzard warnings are in impact in all three Delaware counties by way of Feb. 23. The Nationwide Climate Service is asking for many of Delaware to see a foot or extra of snow. Winds may gust to 45 miles per hour.
FORECAST: Harmful blizzard hitting Delaware. Verify newest snow forecast
The NWS mentioned snowfall charges of 1 or 2 inches per hour might be within the playing cards in a single day Feb. 22 into 23. When that snowfall price is mixed with whipping wind gusts, it might be whiteout circumstances, making journey mainly unattainable.
Driving restrictions
The state had been underneath a Stage 1 driving warning since late afternoon. This degree urges warning to anybody driving, and says residents ought to keep away from journey until vital.
However as of 10 p.m. Feb. 22, new restrictions went into impact statewide.
New Fortress County is now underneath Stage 2 Driving Restrictions, that means no individual might function a motorized vehicle on Delaware roadways until they’re designated as important personnel. This consists of operators of snow removing tools employed, contracted by a public or non-public entity or designated individuals already authorized by way of the Delaware Emergency Administration Company’s State of Emergency Driving Waiver Program.
Neighbors take a break from shoveling round a hearth pit on Rodney Road close to Wilmington’s Trolley Sq. on the night time of February 22, 2026.
A Stage 3 Driving Ban has been imposed in Kent and Sussex counties beginning at 10 p.m. Feb. 22. The means no individual shall function a motorized vehicle on Delaware roadways.
The one exceptions are:
Important personnel, together with a “public utility,” operators of snow removing tools employed or contracted by a public or non-public entity
Any individual or entity in violation of an activated Stage 3 Driving Ban could also be penalized, as may a office that penalizes workers who do not report underneath these restrictions.
The ban comes as a number of roads in Kent and Sussex counties have been closed late Feb. 22 due to downed bushes and emergency utility work.
Energy outages hit Kent, Sussex counties
Delaware Electrical Coop electrical energy mentioned greater than 6,000 Sussex County prospects had been with out energy as of 8:20 p.m. Feb. 22 and as of 9:20 p.m. the member-owned utility was reporting almost 3,000 of its prospects had misplaced energy.
Delmarva Energy, which serves different components of the Delmarva peninsula, mentioned about 9 p.m. Feb. 22 on its web site that it has 265 lively outages affecting greater than 6,000 prospects.
How a lot snow will Delaware get?
The snow totals have dropped. Here is a take a look at what the Nationwide Climate Service was predicting as of Sunday night time.
New Fortress County: 12-18 inches
Kent County: 12-18 inches
Sussex County: 12-18 inches
Storm protection is quickly growing. Verify again with delawareonline.com for extra info.
Ship ideas or story concepts to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or [email protected].
This text initially appeared on Delaware Information Journal: Delaware blizzard: Workplaces shut, driving restrictions, energy outages