Wilmington, Delaware – A prolonged stretch of colder-than-normal weather is expected to settle across Delaware from Friday through early the following week, bringing persistent freezing temperatures and limited chances for rain or snow across the state.
According to the National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center, the 8 to 14-day outlook for Jan. 30 through Feb. 5 places Delaware firmly within a high-confidence zone for below-normal temperatures. Probabilities for colder-than-average conditions range from 80 to 100 percent across much of the Mid-Atlantic, including Delaware, as a broad cold pattern remains locked in over the eastern United States.
Daytime highs across Wilmington, Dover, Newark, and coastal Sussex County are expected to run several degrees below seasonal averages, while overnight lows frequently fall below freezing. The cold air mass stretches along the East Coast from New England through the Mid-Atlantic and coastal Carolinas and reaches as far south as Florida, while also extending west into Ohio and Mississippi. Most areas east of the Rockies are expected to remain colder than normal during this period, with above-normal warmth limited to the Pacific Coast and areas west of the Rockies.
Despite the colder temperatures, precipitation across Delaware is expected to trend below normal. The outlook favors drier-than-average conditions from Maine through the Mid-Atlantic, reducing the likelihood of widespread rain or snow events. While brief light snow, flurries, or a passing coastal system cannot be ruled out, the overall pattern does not support frequent storms or significant accumulation.
Above-normal precipitation chances are largely confined to Texas, Florida, and the Pacific Northwest, while near-normal precipitation is more likely across parts of the southern Plains and Southwest.
Residents across Delaware should prepare for an extended period of winter cold, remain alert for icy travel conditions during overnight and early morning hours, and take precautions to protect pipes, pets, and vulnerable populations. Additional outlook updates may be issued as the period approaches.
