Severe Weather Awareness Poster Contest

In honor of the 60th anniversary of the Storm of ‘62 and Severe Weather Awareness Week, Delaware Sea Grant is hosting a poster contest for students in kindergarten to 12th grade.

The Storm of ‘62, also known as the Ash Wednesday Storm, blew wind and water onto Delaware’s beach towns, causing record flooding and destroying 1,932 houses between Dewey Beach and Fenwick Island. This type of storm is known as a nor’easter, which is a northerly system with average winds of 30-40 miles per hour that is most common in the fall and winter. Nor’easters usually pass by quickly; however the Storm of ‘62 sat over Delaware and the Mid-Atlantic for nearly three days and this caused more water to pile up over five high tides. Offshore waves grew to over 40 feet, and the waves breaking on the beaches ranged from 20-30 feet, pounding away at the dunes and the Rehoboth Boardwalk. Many people had to evacuate, and subsequently rebuild their properties after the storm.

Note: Voting is now closed. All finalists are posted below.