Wilmington, DE – Clouds drift low over the Delaware River this morning as a sharp December chill looms just days away. By Saturday night, what begins as rain could quickly turn to snow, setting the stage for slick travel and the first real winter weekend of the season.
According to the National Weather Service, highs will hover in the upper 30s to low 40s through Saturday before temperatures drop below freezing. By Saturday evening, rain may transition to a wintry mix, then snow as the mercury falls into the 20s. Snow chances increase to 70% overnight, with roads expected to turn slick into Sunday morning.
Drivers should prepare for potentially icy conditions on I-95, Route 13, and bridges connecting to New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The combination of melting snow and freezing air could produce “flash freeze” conditions early Sunday — particularly on shaded or untreated surfaces.
Meteorologists say this system is part of a broader Arctic push sweeping across the East Coast this weekend, bringing some of the coldest air of December so far. By Sunday, highs near 32°F will feel closer to the teens with wind chill. The cold pattern is expected to persist into early next week as holiday travel ramps up across the Mid-Atlantic.
5-Day Outlook (Dec. 11–15):
- Friday: Partly sunny, high 38°F.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy, high 42°F.
- Saturday Night: Rain changing to snow, low 26°F.
- Sunday: Chance of snow, high 32°F. Cold and breezy.
- Monday: Mostly sunny, high 33°F.
- Tuesday: Clear and cold, high near 35°F.
