Delaware starts the morning with frozen windshields, stiff car doors, and a sharp winter chill. Breath clouds the air. Pavement looks dry, but slick spots linger where moisture froze before sunrise.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures sit near 25 degrees early in Wilmington. Wind chills fall into the teens. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded roads may remain icy this morning. Drivers should slow down on I-95, Route 202, and neighborhood streets during early travel.
Sunshine helps temperatures recover into the mid-40s later today. Thursday turns milder, with highs reaching the low 50s. To be fair, it will feel briefly comfortable for mid-December. That warmth matters, because rain quickly follows.
Rain develops Thursday evening and becomes widespread by Friday morning. Periods of rain continue into Friday afternoon, with breezy winds gusting near 35 mph. Wet pavement and reduced visibility could slow travel during peak hours, especially near I-95, Route 141, and the Delaware Memorial Bridge.
Plan extra time if traveling Friday morning or heading out early for Christmas plans. Keep headlights on and increase following distance in steady rain.
Colder air returns Friday night. Temperatures drop toward the upper 20s. Any leftover moisture may refreeze, creating black ice into early Saturday. Parking lots, ramps, and untreated roads will freeze first.
This warm-to-cold pattern is an early winter signal. While snow is not expected locally through the weekend, models hint at colder air pushing east next week. With major snowstorms impacting the Midwest, winter weather may grow more active closer to Christmas.
Saturday stays cooler but dry. Sunday moderates slightly, though mornings remain frosty for travelers.
5-Day Wilmington Weather Outlook
• Today: Partly sunny, high near 45°
• Thursday: Mostly sunny, high near 52°
• Friday: Rain likely, breezy, high near 55°
• Saturday: Partly sunny, high near 41°
• Sunday: Partly sunny, high near 49°
