DELMARVA - A more unsettled stretch of weather is on the way for Coastal Sussex County, beginning early Thursday and lasting through early Saturday morning, as an upper-level disturbance deepens over the Northeast and brings waves of rain and storm activity.
Thursday morning will start off relatively quiet but increasingly cloudy, as a cold front approaches from the west. Temperatures will quickly warm into the low to mid-70s by midday, thanks to a southerly breeze pulling in warmer and more humid air from the Atlantic.
By Thursday afternoon, expect scattered showers and thunderstorms to begin developing across southern Delaware. Some storms could bring brief heavy rain, gusty winds, and lightning. The most widespread activity is expected later in the evening and into the overnight hours.
Thursday night into Friday morning, a shortwave disturbance rotating through the Mid-Atlantic will enhance rainfall coverage and intensity. As moisture levels rise (PWAT values up to 1.5 inches), this setup may lead to periods of moderate to heavy rainfall, particularly during the overnight hours. While the heaviest totals are likely to fall farther north along the I-95 corridor, Coastal Sussex County could receive around 0.5 to 1 inch of rain by the time the event ends.
On Friday, the region will remain under the influence of the upper low spinning over or near New York. Showers will likely linger into the morning and possibly early afternoon. With clouds and rain-cooled air, temperatures will stay well below normal — only reaching the low to mid-60s. Winds will be out of the northwest behind the front, keeping conditions damp and chilly.
Rain chances will gradually taper off Friday evening into early Saturday morning as the low-pressure system slowly lifts northeast and high pressure begins to build from the west. Skies will start to clear after midnight, and overnight lows will drop into the upper 40s to near 50 degrees.
The good news? A drier, sunnier pattern is expected for the weekend — just in time for any outdoor plans on Saturday afternoon and Sunday.
