DELMARVA - A stalled cold front across Sussex County is forecast to begin drifting south on Thursday before pushing offshore by Thursday night. The National Weather Service expects mainly dry, high-pressure conditions to build in behind the front, leading to pleasant and seasonable weather for the July Fourth holiday weekend.
Overnight Wednesday into early Thursday, skies are projected to clear gradually with lows dipping into the 60s. Patchy fog may develop after midnight. The quiet start to Thursday will give way to more active conditions in the afternoon as another cold front approaches from the northwest. Forecasters anticipate this front will trigger showers and thunderstorms, some of which could be strong.
Weather models indicate moderate instability, with up to 1,500 J/KG of convective energy in northern areas and wind shear values supportive of organized storms. The Storm Prediction Center has placed regions north of Philadelphia under a slight risk for severe weather, mainly due to the potential for damaging wind gusts. Thunderstorm activity should weaken as it moves south into Delaware and loses daytime heating after sunset. Highs on Thursday are expected to reach the mid to upper 80s, with isolated spots touching 90 degrees.
By Thursday night, the front is forecast to clear the coast, ushering in cooler and drier air. Temperatures will drop into the mid-60s across Sussex County. Friday and Saturday will feature partly to mostly clear skies, afternoon highs in the mid-80s, and overnight lows in the upper 50s to low 60s, setting the stage for an ideal holiday weekend.
Looking ahead to early next week, warmer and more humid conditions are expected to return. Highs could climb back into the upper 80s and low 90s, with isolated to scattered thunderstorms possible Monday through Wednesday.
Separately, the National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-0 tornado that briefly touched down near Frankford on Sunday, June 30. The tornado formed at 1:16 p.m. along Omar Road and moved east-southeast over a heavily forested area toward Shockley Town Road. Peak winds reached 65 mph, snapping large branches, but no injuries or fatalities were reported. The damage path measured approximately half a mile long and up to 100 yards wide.
The Weather Service survey team credited local media and Sussex County Emergency Management for assisting in documenting the event.