Smoke, showers and sticky skies: Gloomy weekend rolls Into an unsettled week on Delmarva

DELMARVA -- A stretch of gloomy, sticky weather continued Saturday, with overcast skies, downpours in the morning, and humid conditions despite afternoon breaks in the rain.

Highs climbed into the low 80s under the thick cloud cover, but the region also saw a hazy tint in the sky — not from fog, but from smoke carried south by northeast winds. That smoke originated from the Mines Sprung Wildfire burning in Wharton State Forest in Shamong Township, New Jersey.

As a result, the National Weather Service issued an Air Quality Alert through midnight Monday for parts of Delmarva, citing "moderate" air quality levels. 

Saturday night brings more unsettled weather. Showers are forecast to redevelop — especially across southern Delmarva — along with areas of patchy fog and mist. Lows will dip into the low to mid-60s, making for a muggy and damp overnight.

A stationary front currently draped across the Chesapeake region will linger into Tuesday, keeping conditions unsettled. This boundary will slowly lift northward as a warm front by Tuesday night, drawing warmer, more humid air into the region as high pressure builds off Bermuda midweek.

Father's Day will remain cloudy and cool, with highs ranging from the 60s to low 70s.  A new round of scattered showers is expected by late Sunday evening, continuing into Monday. Rain chances will vary from 20 to 40 percent, with isolated thunderstorms possible.

Another weak disturbance will ride along the stalled boundary Monday night into Tuesday, leading to additional rounds of rain and isolated thunderstorm chances across the region.

By Wednesday, temperatures will rise as the front lifts north and places Delmarva firmly in the warm sector. Highs could reach the upper 80s to low 90s on Thursday, with heat indices exceeding 95 degrees in spots. This may lead to the season’s first heat alerts if trends hold.

We are also monitoring the potential for strong to severe thunderstorms late Thursday, driven by an approaching cold front and increased atmospheric instability. Will continue to monitor the evolution as the week progresses. 

After the cold front passes Thursday night, high pressure is expected to return, bringing drier and more pleasant conditions Friday into next weekend.