This article has been updated to include a confirmed tornado in Dover and the lifting of the State of Emergency Friday morning.
DOVER, Del. - A trained weather spotter reported a rain-wrapped tornado on the ground in Dover at 6:18 p.m. Thursday as severe weather caused widespread damage across parts of the city.
According to the Dover Police Department, significant storm damage has been reported, including downed trees and flooding. The department said a State of Emergency went into effect at 6:20 p.m., shortly after the tornado was reported, but was lifted by Friday morning.
Police said some of the hardest-hit areas include the Division Street and Lockerman Street corridor, as well as parts of North DuPont Highway. Significant power outages have also been reported, and traffic signals are not working at numerous intersections, creating dangerous travel conditions, said police.
One person staying at a hotel hit by the storm was transported, but for an unrelated medical issue, according to police.
Police are urging drivers to use extreme caution. At intersections where traffic lights are out, drivers should stop and treat the intersection as a four-way stop, slow down and proceed cautiously, and watch for other cars, pedestrians and emergency responders. Drivers should not assume others will stop.
Police are asking people to stay home and stay off the roads while emergency crews respond. Roads may be blocked or dangerous because of downed trees, power lines, flooding and debris.
