Four tornadoes confirmed across Delaware, Maryland on Aug. 20

National Weather Service damage surveys confirmed four tornadoes in Delaware and Maryland on Aug. 20, with three rated EF-1 and one rated EF-0. No fatalities or injuries were reported. The first tornado of the day touched down near Barclay, Maryland, from a supercell thunderstorm that continued east into Delaware, where three additional tornadoes developed, including an EF-1 tornado that caused significant damage in Dover.

Barclay, MD – EF-1

The National Weather Service documented a 0.5-mile tornado track west of Barclay on Aug. 20, 2026.

An EF-1 tornado touched down near Barclay, Maryland, at 5:41 p.m. Aug. 20. The tornado traveled only 0.5 miles, with a maximum width of 65 yards and estimated peak winds of 95 to 105 mph, before dissipating at 5:42 p.m. The tornado began about 2 miles west of Barclay in a wooded area near Dell Foxx Road and Barclay Road, where it snapped and uprooted several softwood and hardwood trees near a residence. It then moved east across a bean field and onto a residential property along Benton Corner Road, where additional trees, including a large cedar, were snapped at the trunk. No fatalities or injuries were reported.

Marydel, DE – EF-1

The National Weather Service surveyed a 1.33-mile EF-1 tornado track near Marydel on Aug. 20, 2026. Peak winds were estimated at 90 to 100 mph, with a maximum path width of 60 yards.

Near Marydel, Delaware, another EF-1 tornado developed and traveled 1.33 miles in about two minutes, beginning at 5:54 p.m. and ending at 5:56 p.m. Peak winds were estimated at 90 to 100 mph, with a maximum path width of 60 yards. The tornado began along Grygo Road, about a quarter-mile south of Mahan Corner Road, where it downed tree limbs near a residence. It then crossed Grygo Road and uprooted two large oak trees that fell onto the corner of a home. The tornado continued east-northeast into a heavily wooded area, where drone footage showed a narrow path of snapped branches and uprooted trees. On the other side of the woods, a residence along Parkers Chapel Road sustained the total loss of an old barn and shed, along with additional tree and branch damage.

Hazlettville, DE – EF-0

The National Weather Service surveyed a 0.6-mile EF-0 tornado track near Hazlettville on Aug. 20, 2026. Peak winds were estimated at 70 to 80 mph, with a maximum path width of 100 yards.

A third tornado, rated EF-0, occurred near Hazlettville, Delaware, from 6:02 to 6:03 p.m. The tornado traveled 0.6 miles and reached a maximum width of 100 yards, with estimated peak winds of 70 to 80 mph. It began in a field just east of a residential area, where discontinuous swirl marks were observed in a cornfield. The tornado then moved east-northeast toward a group of chicken houses and an open-air barn, removing nearly half of the barn’s metal roof panels. Minor damage also occurred to the metal roofs of the chicken houses and a nearby row of ground-mounted solar panels. The tornado continued across two more cornfields before dissipating just south of a residence and before reaching Bryants Corner Road.

Dover, DE – EF-1

The National Weather Service surveyed a 3.2-mile tornado track through Dover on Aug. 20, 2026. The tornado was rated EF-1, with estimated peak winds of 100 to 110 mph.

The strongest and most destructive tornado of the day struck Dover, Delaware, where peak winds were estimated at 100 to 110 mph. The EF-1 tornado began about 2 miles southwest of Dover at 6:09 p.m. and traveled 3.2 miles before dissipating about 1 mile north-northeast of the city at 6:14 p.m. The tornado damaged the Dover Little League fields at Schutte Park, snapping at least seven large wooden light fixtures and damaging fencing and scoreboards. It also damaged the City of Dover VanSant Generating Station before causing significant damage at a factory warehouse, where concrete block walls collapsed, trailers were overturned and part of the metal roof was removed. The tornado later weakened through downtown Dover before intensifying near Kings Highway and North Dupont Highway, where it peeled roughly half the roof from a motel, damaged a neighboring motel roof and toppled two large business signs.