Do you still have your snow boots and mittens collecting dust on the shelf? You might want to consider bringing your winter gear out of retirement in preparation for this week’s forecast storm.
A storm over the Southwestern United States was expected to move through the Rockies and across the central Plains on Monday before extending Thursday into the upper Midwest and possibly impacting the South in the latter part of the week, according to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey.
With it, the storm will bring heavy snowfall, strong winds, freezing rain, severe thunderstorms and the possibility of flooding and tornadoes to various parts of the country.
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Delaware is not expected to see any storm impact until Thursday, when heavy rain, strong winds and the possibility of snow will begin early in the morning.
Rain will continue into Friday morning and last through the afternoon before tapering off by evening.
Winter weather conditions will be concentrated more in New Castle County, but a hazardous weather outlook also was posted for Kent County and Sussex County by the National Weather Service on Monday morning.
New Castle County
New Castle County is expected to have a high of 45 degrees and a low of 43 degrees on Thursday. There is an 80% chance of precipitation during the day, with rain, snow and freezing rain on the radar before 1 p.m. In the evening, that goes up to 90%.
On Friday, the high will be 50 degrees and the low will be 33 degrees. Partly sunny skies are expected along with a 50% chance of rain during the day before leading into a partly cloudy evening.
Kent County
On Thursday, Kent County will see a high of 49 degrees and a low of 45 degrees. Rain will begin after 7 a.m. with a 90% chance of precipitation and mild winds. These conditions will continue into the night.
Friday will be partly sunny with a high of 52 degrees and a low of 34 degrees, plus a 40% chance of rain before 1 p.m. Nightfall will bring partly cloudy skies.
Sussex County
In Sussex County, Thursday’s high will be 51 degrees and the low will be 46 degrees. A 90% chance of rain is expected after 7 a.m. and mild winds will be present. By nightfall, rain will continue from earlier in the day.
By Friday, temperatures will be as high as 53 degrees and as low as 34 degrees. A 40% chance of rain is expected before 1 p.m., but skies will be partly sunny before transitioning to partly cloudy in the evening.
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Throughout the week, minor coastal flooding could be possible for Kent County along with inland and Atlantic coastal portions of Sussex County. Waters adjacent to the mouth of the Delaware Bay and Atlantic coastal waters, along with waters from Cape Henlopen to Fenwick Island, could see gale-force winds and very rough seas.
Inclement weather will subside by the weekend, and Delaware should expect a mix of partly sunny and partly cloudy skies as temperatures continue dropping.
