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Blades, DE

Full City Profile · Delaware · Sussex County County

2.8 /5.0
C+ Fair
1,055 Population 1,918/sq mi density
$62,596 Median Income $24,240 per capita
$209,600 Home Value $242,076 Zillow
$839 Median Rent 27.8% income on rent
55°F Avg Temperature 293 sunny days/yr
272 Violent Crime/100K 1,566 property/100K
C+
Overall
2.8 / 5.0
Fair overall score based on economy, affordability, safety and education
B+
Economy
3.9 / 5.0
$62,596 median income, 3.9% unemployment
A+
Affordability
4.8 / 5.0
$209,600 home value, $839/mo rent
F
Safety
1.0 / 5.0
272 violent crimes/100K
D
Education
1.6 / 5.0
7.8% bachelor's degree or higher
Blades experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 55°F (13°C). Winters average 35°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. The area gets 293 sunny days per year. Annual precipitation totals 46.3 inches. The area receives 12.8 inches of snow annually. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 41.

Temperature

35°F Jan (1°C) 77°F Jul (25°C)
Annual Average55.4°F
3% above US avg
January Average35°F (1°C)
July Average77°F (25°C)
Sunny Days293 days/yr

Geography

Elevation21 ft (6 m)
Area0.6 sq mi (1.5 km²)
Population Density1,918/sq mi
Coordinates38.6352°N, 75.6025°W
TimezoneAmerica/New_York
CountySussex County County
Nearest AirportSalisbury-Ocean City Wicomico Regional (SBY)
21 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 46.3"
22% above US avg
Snowfall 12.8"
Wettest Month (Jul) 4.33"
Driest Month (Feb) 3.11"

Air Quality

AQI Median41.0
RatingGood

Air Pollutants (EPA 2023)

Ozone (O₃)0.0463 ppm
SO₂ (Sulfur Dioxide)0.20 ppb
PM2.5 (Fine Particles)8.6 μg/m³

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively Moderate
Risk Score94.2 / 100
Social Vulnerability70.4 / 100
Community Resilience59.8 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Relatively Low
Hurricane Relatively High
Earthquake Relatively Low
Wildfire Relatively Low
Flood Relatively Moderate
Hail Relatively Low
Strong Wind Relatively High
Heat Wave Relatively Moderate
Winter Weather Very High
Lightning Relatively High
Ice Storm Relatively Moderate
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave Relatively High
Landslide Very Low
Coastal Flood Very High
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

10 earthquakes (M2.5+) within 150 km since 1990. Strongest: M3.2. Most recent: M2.6 on Feb 9, 2023.

Oct 23, 1990 3 km W of Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey M3.2 98 km
Jul 1, 2009 3 km ESE of Pennsville, New Jersey M2.8 113 km
Mar 15, 1993 5 km W of Columbia, Maryland M2.7 130 km
Oct 28, 1994 1 km E of Mount Vernon, Maryland M2.7 114 km
Jan 13, 1990 6 km ENE of Eldersburg, Maryland M2.6 141 km
Jun 25, 2021 2 km SE of Woodlawn, Maryland M2.6 121 km
Jul 5, 1996 2 km NW of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania M2.6 142 km
Feb 9, 2023 29 km E of Greenbackville, Virginia M2.6 82 km
Mar 10, 1993 3 km WSW of Columbia, Maryland M2.5 129 km
Feb 26, 1993 2 km SW of Marlton, New Jersey M2.5 149 km
Source: USGS (M2.5+, 1990–2025)

Hurricane History

10 hurricanes (Cat 1+) within 500 km since 1980. Strongest: Category 3. Most recent: Arthur (2014, Cat 2).

Year Name Category Closest
2014 Arthur Category 2 217 km
2012 Sandy Category 1 213 km
2011 Irene Category 1 79 km
2003 Isabel Category 1 284 km
1999 Floyd Category 1 209 km
1998 Bonnie Category 1 244 km
1993 Emily Category 3 239 km
1991 Bob Category 3 195 km
1986 Charley Category 1 142 km
1985 Gloria Category 2 99 km
Source: NOAA IBTrACS (Cat 1+, 1980–2026)

Tornado History

196 tornadoes (EF0+) within 100 km since 1950. Strongest: EF3. Total: 4 fatalities, 92 injuries.

Date Rating Distance Fatalities
Apr 1, 2023 EF3 14 km 1
Apr 28, 2002 EF3 65 km 0
Sep 1, 2021 EF2 89 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 25 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 53 km 0
Aug 4, 2020 EF2 63 km 0
Apr 15, 2019 EF2 7 km 0
Jul 23, 2017 EF2 74 km 0
May 18, 1995 EF2 43 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 94 km 0
Jul 27, 1994 EF2 84 km 0
Jul 31, 1992 EF2 43 km 0
Jul 18, 1984 EF2 18 km 0
Oct 13, 1983 EF2 89 km 0
Jul 21, 1983 EF2 60 km 2
Jun 27, 1978 EF2 93 km 0
Jun 9, 1977 EF2 45 km 0
Mar 21, 1976 EF2 71 km 0
Aug 27, 1971 EF2 66 km 0
Jul 30, 1971 EF2 62 km 0
Source: NOAA SPC (EF0+, 1950–2024)

Tsunami History

1 tsunami recorded within 500 km.

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1840 PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Earthquake 134 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database. Sorted by wave height.

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) within 100 km. Largest: BESTPITCH (7,743 ac, 2017).

Year Name Acres Distance
2017 BESTPITCH 7,743 44 km
2004 RETAINING ECOLOGICAL HEALTH 5,678 49 km
2014 BLACKWATER MARSH WUI BURNS FY14 5,433 48 km
2005 MARSH RX-FWS 4,380 45 km
2007 GUINEA MARSH 4,173 43 km
2009 DOCTORS CREEK 3,686 43 km
1999 FB R O C I 3,525 48 km
2019 MDBWR-FY19-RX-MDWHS SUPPORT 3,197 47 km
2011 COMPARTMENT J 2,775 48 km
2005 ISLAND CREEK 2,729 43 km
2004 UNNAMED 2,156 43 km
1992 UNNAMED 2,038 43 km
2005 VEGETATION RESEARCH 1,926 41 km
2011 THOROFARE 1,850 42 km
1987 UNNAMED 1,692 49 km
2004 ROBBINS FIRE 1,612 50 km
1988 SLAU BCH 2 1,578 39 km
2020 SPLIT DITCH 1,518 88 km
2004 BLACKWATER HAZARD FUEL REDUCTION 1,518 50 km
2014 RAILROAD 1,431 88 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN (100+ acres)

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 35°F (1°C) 3.9 in Coldest
February 37°F (3°C) 3.1 in Driest
March 45°F (7°C) 4.3 in
April 54°F (12°C) 3.4 in
May 64°F (18°C) 3.9 in
June 72°F (22°C) 3.5 in
July 77°F (25°C) 4.3 in Warmest, Wettest
August 75°F (24°C) 4.3 in
September 69°F (21°C) 3.8 in
October 58°F (14°C) 3.3 in
November 48°F (9°C) 3.2 in
December 39°F (4°C) 3.5 in

Blades has a seasonal temperature swing of 42°F / from 35°F in January to 77°F in July. Total annual precipitation is 44.5 inches, with July being the wettest month (4.3") and February the driest (3.1").

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