Forecasters with the National Weather Service are predicting more than a foot of snow to fall on Kent County beginning Friday afternoon.
Gary Szatkowski, chief meteorologist with the Philadelphia/Mount Holly N.J., weather office said people in the county should be prepared for a major storm involving large amounts of snow and high winds.
As of noon Feb. 4, the National Weather Service is predicting between 13 and 15 inches of snow to fall on central Delaware beginning at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5 and continuing through 7 p.m. Saturday. The NWS also issued a winter storm watch for the county, to be effective Friday afternoon.
Winds speeds of between 20 to 25 mph are expected, with gusts possible up to 35 mph, Szatkowski said. Wind chills will be between 12 and 18 mph, he added.
“We’re trying to give people between 24 and 48 hours notice to try to prepare,” Szatkowski said.
And Kent Countians seem to be taking the message to heart.
Frank Palicka, general manager of Rommel’s Ace Hardware on Route 8, Dover, said his store is stocking up on bags of rock salt and ice melt.
“We also had about 300 shovels come in on Wednesday, and they were gone in about two hours,” Palicka said. “I’ve got another 700 due in by noon Friday. I’m expecting a huge rush.”
Likewise, the Ace Hardware in Milford was expecting to restock its snow shovel supply with a noon delivery there. Other stores —Walmart, Target — were completely sold out of shovels Feb. 4. Felton Hardware, however, did have a supply of shovels and salt ready for customers.
Szatkowski applauds this level of readiness.
“We need people to be prepared,” he said. “Most times, heavy snow is not a life threatening event like a tornado, but it can be dangerous if your driving and conditions deteriorate. You don’t want to end up in a ditch.”
After the storm passes, however, area residents should not expect much relief. Even though the clouds may be gone, temperatures probably will not get above freezing before Tuesday, Feb. 9, and that’s when another storm may hit.
Area residents appear to be taking news of the oncoming storm in stride, but admits that could change.
“Mostly, people are preparing,” he said. “There’s not a lot of panic yet, but I have a feeling once those snow shovels come off the truck, we’re gonna be mobbed.”
To keep track of weather conditions in the county, visit the NWS Philadelphia website at www.weather.gov/phi.
The site is updated every three hours.
Jeff Brown is news editor at the Dover Post, a sister paper to the The Beacon. Melissa Steele contributed to this article.
Milford, Del. —
