Hurricane Maria impacts on Delaware expected to be minimal

Hurricane Maria likely won't bring too much wind or rain to Delaware as it winds down its life cycle after a vicious blow to Puerto Rico and a slow roll up the East Coast. 

Maria was about 160 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, around 5 p.m. Tuesday. It was tracking north at about 7 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. Soon, it will make an eastward bend out to sea. 

The effects Maria will have on Delaware could start as early as Tuesday and last through Thursday.

Delaware may get ocean swells, six-to-eight-foot breaking waves and winds up to 20 mph on the coast said DNREC Shoreline and Waterway Section Program Manager Michael Powell.

The storm is far enough offshore that strong winds are not likely to cause major beach erosion, Powell said. There may be some flooding in downstate bays, Powell said, but limited rain is unlikely to produce any major inland flood events. 

More:Delaware doctors to provide medical aid to Caribbean island in wake of Hurricane Maria

More:Hurricane José brings flooding to Delaware

Low-lying roads on the coast accustomed to flooding, such as those in Oak Orchard or Lewes, still may experience high water, Powell said. But the current stage of the moon cycle will keep tides half-a-foot to a foot lower than during the most recent hurricane.  

Maria comes on the heels of Hurricane Jose, which caused flooding in some of Delaware's beach communities, notably with swells and high storm tide slicing through a dune south of Dewey Beach.

The breach allowed water to come through and flood Del. 1 in a sparsely populated area. The roadway was closed for hours because of high water. 

"Maria is supposed to be similar to Jose," Powell said. "But this storm is not supposed to be as severe, so hopefully we will not have that happen again this week."

Powell said the breach has been filled and the problem which allowed the breach corrected. He said the issue was localized to a specific spot on that dune and shouldn't be expected again elsewhere. 

Maria is expected to slow down through the night and turn north-northeast Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center. It will pass east off the coast of North Carolina in a few days.

Maximum sustained winds Tuesday evening were about 70 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 230 miles from the center, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Maria is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 1 to 2 inches over the Outer Banks of North Carolina through Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

It will weaken over the coming days into a tropical storm, according to the National Hurricane Center. 

At its strongest, Maria swept over Puerto Rico and left the island a disaster area. The territory is without power, and supplies and aide still are needed. 

The Federal Drug Administration this week warned of critical pharmaceutical shortages after drug manufacturing on the island came to a standstill in the storm's wake. 

Contact Adam Duvernay at aduvernay@delawareonline.com or (302) 319-1855 or @DuvinDE.