DELMARVA - The beach towns of Sussex County will experience a dramatic weather shift this weekend, transitioning from early Saturday storms to calmer and cooler conditions by Sunday, setting the stage for a tranquil start to the workweek.
Saturday morning begins unsettled, as a decaying Mesoscale Convective System (MCS)—a large cluster of thunderstorms—moves into the region from the west. While confidence remains somewhat low in the intensity of this system as it reaches the Delaware coast, showers and possible thunderstorms are expected during the early morning hours, especially before noon.
Clouds will dominate through mid-morning, but partial clearing is expected by early afternoon, allowing temperatures to rise into the low to mid 80s across beach communities like Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany, and Fenwick Island. Humidity will remain elevated, with dew points in the 60s, contributing to a sticky and uncomfortable feel. A cold front will push through by late Saturday, triggering isolated to scattered afternoon thunderstorms, though coverage is expected to be more limited compared to Friday night’s activity. Gusty winds and small hail remain possible with any stronger cells.
By Saturday night, the front will slide offshore, ending the storm threat and ushering in a drier and cooler airmass. Overnight lows will drop into the upper 50s to low 60s, providing some relief from the recent muggy conditions.
Sunday emerges as the better beach day of the weekend. Under the influence of high pressure and an eastward-moving upper trough, skies will be partly to mostly sunny, and humidity levels will drop noticeably. Expect highs in the low to mid 70s along the coast with a refreshing northwest breeze. Winds could gust up to 30-35 mph during the afternoon due to a tightening pressure gradient, but skies will remain dry for most of the day.
As night falls Sunday, winds will relax, and the sky will clear, leading to a crisp evening with temperatures dipping into the mid-50s. These quiet conditions will persist into early Monday, which will start the new week off with clear skies, light winds, and continued dry, comfortable weather.