Sharp Temperature Drop and Gusty Winds as Rain Mixes With Wet Snow Across Delmarva

A dramatic change in the weather is unfolding across the Delmarva region today as a strong cold front moves offshore, bringing gusty winds, falling temperatures, and the potential for rain to mix with wet snow later in the day. The region began the morning unusually warm, with temperatures starting in the 60s and even low […]

A dramatic change in the weather is unfolding across the Delmarva region today as a strong cold front moves offshore, bringing gusty winds, falling temperatures, and the potential for rain to mix with wet snow later in the day.

The region began the morning unusually warm, with temperatures starting in the 60s and even low 70s in some areas. However, strong cold air advection behind the departing cold front is causing temperatures to steadily fall through the day. Readings will drop through the 50s and 40s during the morning before settling into the mid to upper 30s by this afternoon.

Periods of showers are expected early today. As the atmosphere continues to cool, an area of additional moisture will develop behind the front as a disturbance rides along the temperature boundary offshore. This will cause rain to expand across much of the region through the late morning and afternoon hours.

As colder air deepens across the Mid-Atlantic, rain may begin mixing with wet snow, and in some places could briefly change over to all snow during the afternoon. This scenario is most likely near and southeast of the I-95 corridor, which includes much of Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

If a band of stronger lift develops later this afternoon, precipitation could briefly intensify. This would allow the atmosphere to cool more quickly and may lead to a faster transition from rain to snow for a short period.

Despite the possibility of wet snow, little to no accumulation is expected. The recent stretch of record warmth has left ground temperatures elevated, and air temperatures during the day will remain above freezing. At most, minor slushy accumulation could briefly occur on grassy or elevated surfaces during heavier bursts of precipitation, while roads should remain mainly wet. But the chances of that are quite low.

In addition to the falling temperatures, winds will become quite gusty behind the front. Strong mixing in the atmosphere will allow winds to gust between 30 and 40 mph at times today, especially during the morning hours immediately behind the frontal passage. These winds will add to the chill as temperatures continue to fall through the afternoon.

By late day, wind chills are expected to drop into the upper 20s to low 30s, creating a sharp contrast from the mild conditions experienced just yesterday. In fact, temperatures this afternoon will be roughly 40 to 50 degrees colder than yesterday afternoon across parts of the region.

Precipitation should taper off from west to east by late afternoon into early evening as the system pulls away. Skies may begin to clear tonight, although a few lingering snow showers cannot be ruled out in parts of northeastern Pennsylvania.

Temperatures tonight will fall into the upper 20s across much of the region as winds gradually diminish, bringing a cold end to what began as a very mild start to the day.