A confirmed tornado in Kent County marks the first twister to hit Delaware in March in almost 50 years.

The National Weather Service confirmed on March 18 that an EF-1 tornado occurred on March 16 near Frederica.

It hit at 10:48 p.m. with peak wind speeds of 90 to 100 miles per hour. It was 0.7 miles long and 75 yards wide, the agency said.

The NWS' damage survey team also said an area near Camden that had "extensive wind damage" was the result of straight-line winds.

Unlike a tornado, in which winds rotate, straight-line winds do not. Still, wind speeds reached 90 to 100 mph on March 16, NWS said.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's severe storms laboratory, tornadoes can happen year-round in the United States.

But tornado season is typically considered to run from March to June or July − though that can change depending on where in the country you are.

In the last 70 years, Delaware has recorded tornadoes as early as January (that occurred in 1967) and as late as November (that occurred in 1989). The majority, however, have occurred in the summer months, according to Delaware Online/The News Journal's tornado tracker.

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The last time a twister was recorded in March in Delaware was 1977.

Last year, Delaware saw two tornadoes. The first was May 16 south of Bethel, while the second was June 30 in Frankford. Both locations are Sussex County.

Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com.

(This story was updated to add new information and a map.)

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: National Weather Service confirms EF-1 tornado in Delaware