Sussex begins digging out from the bomb

Bitter cold, high winds continue

Thomas Brazerol braves the cold to clear the sidewalk in front of Hotel Rehoboth. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

January 5, 2018

A pilot boat churns through the ice near the Cape-May Lewes Ferry terminal in an effort to clear the channel. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Rob Jones kicks up a lot of snow along Baltimore Avenue in downtown Rehoboth Beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Drifting snow has made traverse on the sidewalk along Rehoboth Avenue nearly impossible. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Crews have been out most of the night digging out from the storm. A Bobcat adds to a pile in the parking lot of George Sherman Corp. in Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Blowing snow creates a surreal view looking south along Route 1 toward the canal bridge. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

About 8 inches of snow – and 3-foot drifts – cover the sidewalks along Rehoboth Avenue. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

A Rehoboth Beach employee removes snow from the area around the Bandstand near the Boardwalk. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

It may be some time before anyone can get into the Royal Market in downtown Rehoboth Beach with a drift up to the middle of the door. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Rob Jones uses a snow blower to clear the sidewalk along Baltimore Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Some people did venture out early Friday morning to take advantage of snow on the beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Blowing snow and shadows combine to make an interesting photograph on the north end of the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

The gazebos on Silver Lake in Rehoboth Beach never fail to provide a backdrop to snow photos. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

It’s hard to believe there could be any ice with single-digit and below-zero windchills. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Plows have moved snow around this car stuck on Virginia Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Under tough conditions, Rehoboth Beach crews have been working to clear roads, including First Street. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Village by the Sea, like all Rehoboth Beach shopping spots, is is snowed in, at least for one day. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Thomas Brazerol blows up a lot of snow in front of Hotel Rehoboth. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

A big farm tractor helps clear the roads and driveways on Round Pole Bridge Road in Milton. NICK ROTH PHOTO

Except for a few spots, Rehoboth Bay is frozen over from Dewey to Angola. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Dewey’s already bright mural colors seem to be brighter in the snow. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Snow dunes replace sand dunes on Route 1 in Delaware Seashore State Park. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Hey, Hey Hey, you’re in the way. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Wind-blown spray at the Indian River Inlet forms backward icicles on the south side’s fishing rail. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Nearly half an inch of ice covers this horseshoe crab shell on the beach in Dewey. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

Milton Memorial Park is under a foot of snow following the storm. NICK ROTH PHOTO

Now that the snow is gone, it’s time to clear the way. NICK ROTH PHOTO

Union Street in Milton is clear, but many of the side streets and sidewalks are not. NICK ROTH PHOTO

Icicles are forming on the side of the Milton Public Library. NICK ROTH PHOTO

Dogs have to go out no matter the conditions. NICK ROTH PHOTO

With two shovels and a broom on the back, this guy braves the conditions to make it to his destination. NICK ROTH PHOTO

The frigid conditions have made this branch of the Broadkill River a snowy and icy vista. NICK ROTH PHOTO

Snow drifts are the biggest obstacle on the back roads of Sussex County. NICK ROTH PHOTO

The big dig begins. NICK ROTH PHOTO

The snowman is right at home after the big storm. NICK ROTH PHOTO

Snow drifts across Route 1 at Hudson Fields in Milton. NICK ROTH PHOTO

The wind causes cool textures on the snow. NICK ROTH PHOTO

Winds blow drifting snow across Route 24 near the Plantation Road intersection. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Off Nassau Commons Boulevard, Jeff Baker of Georgetown gets an early start to the business of snow removal. CHRIS FLOOD PHOTO

The mail must go through. A mail truck makes its way down Savannah Road in Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

The wind does strange things along the coast. It has created large drifts but left areas open on Lewes Beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Tiffany Bower of Lewes braves the frigid wind to take her dogs for a quick walk on Lewes Beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Frozen snow forms in pieces along Lewes Beach. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Icicles form on a house on Market Street in Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Bundled-up Barbara Rose has a marathon ahead of her as she digs out her car on Market Street in Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Drifts are up near the top of the outfield fence at the Lewes Little League park. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

1812 Park in downtown Lewes is covered with snow as the canal’s ice pack gets thicker. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Snow piles up on Second Street in downtown Lewes. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

This scene on Second Street in Lewes is repeated hundreds of times as residents dig out their cars after the storm. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

With sub-freezing temperatures, Ice piles up in the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

it’s ice on the rocks at the Lewes ferry terminal. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

Pilot boats work together to break up ice in the channel near the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. RON MACARTHUR PHOTO

A DelDOT truck clears Route 24 near Long Neck. DAN COOK PHOTO

Snow sliding off of the roof of Long Neck Elementary School makes a cool pattern. DAN COOK PHOTO

Late afternoon shadows through an Oak Orchard pier makes parallel lines on the icy bay. DAN COOK PHOTO

Snow-filled streets make driving tricky in Oak Orchard. DAN COOK PHOTO

A double whammy of a blocked car and knocked over mailbox on Bay Farm Road in Long Neck. DAN COOK PHOTO

Plowed parking lots create mountains of snow. DAN COOK PHOTO

Abandoned cars were found along many streets in Oak Orchard. DAN COOK PHOTO

Snow hides an icy road. DAN COOK PHOTO

Drivers move slowly on Route 24 to avoid sliding on the black ice. DAN COOK PHOTO

Snow-filled roads at Malone’s Bayside Marina makes driving slow. DAN COOK PHOTO

The nor'easter that dropped nearly a foot of snow passed through yesterday, which means today is a day for cleaning up.

Don't go outside unless you have to, though. A State of Emergency continues in Sussex County, meaning the roads should be kept clear for emergency personnel. The National Weather service has issued a wind chill advisory until 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 6. The NWS is calling for a high of 19 degrees today, with wind chills as low as 15 below zero. There could be wind gusts as high as 45 mph. State offices in Sussex remain closed.

As of 11:30 a.m., Gov. John Carney's office said Sussex County was still in a State of Emergency, but driving restrictions will be lifted at noon Friday.

The Level 2 Driving Restrictions, which end at noon Friday, means that no person may operate a motor vehicle on Delaware roadways, except for persons designated as "essential personnel." Under Delaware law, the term "essential personnel" means employees or personnel who are necessary to maintain the core functions of government and to maintain the health and safety of the people of Delaware. The following persons are specifically designated as "essential personnel" under Delaware law – operators of snow removal equipment (public and private); persons providing public utility services; persons providing healthcare services; and persons providing food and fuel deliveries.

The Delaware Electric Cooperative and Delmarva Power are reporting no power outages in Sussex County at this time.

Mail delivery spotty and best today

Due to winter weather conditions including ice and high winds and snow drifting in parts Jan. 5, there will be a possibility of late and non-deliveries for some Postal Service residential and business customers. Delivery is being attempted in all locations and every attempt will be made to deliver where there is access to receptacles.

Normal Retail Operations have resumed throughout most of the area. (There are some impacts to a handful of retail locations)

DelDOT Celebrates 100 Years program postponed

Due to Secretary Jennifer Cohan's responsibilities at DelDOT during the recent inclement weather, The Delaware Department of Transportation Celebrates 100 Years program scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 6, has been postponed. The presentation will be rescheduled for a later date.

On Saturday Jan 6, The First State Heritage Park Welcome Center and Galleries are open from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the Research Room of the Delaware Public Archives will be open from 1 to 4 p.m.

RAL Juried Photo Exhibition reception rescheduled

Due to the inclement weather, the reception for the Third Annual RAL Juried Photography Exhibition will be rescheduled from tonight, Jan. 5, to the afternoon of Saturday, Jan. 20, from 1 to 4 p.m., not only to celebrate the work of the exhibiting artists, but to exchange creative ideas during a portfolio review for members of the Coastal Camera Club and the Brandywine Photo Collective.

To kick-off the gallery reception Jan. 20, they will hold a Gallery Talk: with the Judge at 1 p.m., when juror and judge Ron Brignac, area coordinator of photography at the Delaware College of Art and Design, will provide feedback to artists and a walk-through of the jury process.

In the meantime, the exhibition will be open to the public during normal hours, with the exception of today, Jan. 5, as they are closed due to the snow.

Rehoboth offices to close

The Rehoboth Beach administrative offices will be closed Jan.5.

City spokeswoman Krys Johnson said the closing is due to the continued effects of the storm and the Level 2 driving restriction. Only essential employees will have to report for work.

City Manager Sharon Lynn said Carney has authorized the Delaware National Guard to assist state and local crews in the response and recovery from the storm. She said the Streets Department has been working around the clock to clear the roads, but some secondary roads have been drifted over and are impassable. Lynn said residents are advised to stay off the roads to allow city crews to operate snowplows.

For more information, contact the Communications Department at 227-6181 ext. 522 or at communications@cityofrehoboth.com.

Dewey Town Hall closed

The administrative offices of Dewey Beach Town Hall, 105 Rodney Ave., will be closed Jan. 5.

Lewes City Hall, BPW closed

The offices at Lewes City Hall and the Lewes Board of Public Works are closed Jan. 5.

"Our crews have been out since shortly after midnight [Jan. 4] and have been working hard to keep roads clear," said City Manager Ann Marie Townshend. "The windy conditions have caused them to focus the bulk of their attention on the main roads, particularly those used to access Beebe Hospital. Crews [have been] working through the night, but the wind and frigid temperatures have been making it very difficult to keep the roads clear. Please be patient. We will make sure that all roads are cleared."

Winds keep ferry vessels at dock slips

Due to continued strong northwesterly winds and ice conditions in the bay - particularly at the mouth of the Cape May canal, Cape May-Lewes Ferry operations are canceled for tomorrow, Saturday Jan. 6.

Given the current conditions and anticipated frigid temperatures over the next few days, additional departures may also be affected. Travelers who plan to use the Cape May-Lewes Ferry on Sunday, Jan. 7, are urged to call the Cape May-Lewes Ferry Guest Services Center at 800 64 FERRY (800-643-3779), visit the ferry's website at www.cmlf.com for the latest departure information.