WILMINGTON, DE – Ice crystals sparkle across car roofs and farm fields from Newark to Dover as Delaware wakes under its first hard freeze of the season. Temperatures dropped to near 30°F before sunrise, a clear sign that late fall has fully arrived. The still morning air feels sharp and quiet — but a swift warmup and weekend rain are already on the way.
According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey, a Freeze Warning remains in effect until 8 a.m. for most of Delaware, southern New Jersey, and northeast Maryland. Lows between 28°F and 32°F may damage unprotected crops and garden vegetation. Residents should cover plants and bring in sensitive containers before sunrise.
By midday, sunshine and a light southwest breeze will lift highs into the 60s, offering a brief rebound before a storm system moves in from the Midwest. Rain will likely begin late Friday night and continue into Saturday morning, with gusts up to 25 mph at times. Sunday brings another round of rain, possibly heavy at times, making travel slower along I-95 and Route 13. Total rainfall may reach half an inch by Monday morning.
After the rain clears, cooler, drier air returns early next week with highs in the low 50s and lows dipping back toward freezing. Long-range models hint at a winter pattern shift by mid-November, possibly introducing the first snowflakes to nearby Pennsylvania before Thanksgiving.
For now, Delawareans can expect a quick turn from frost to fog and finally to a damp, late-autumn weekend that marks the start of the cold season’s steady advance.
Five-Day Forecast for Wilmington, DE:
Fri: 63/54 – Frost early, then sunny; breezy southwest winds.
Sat: 68/48 – Morning showers, clearing skies by afternoon.
Sun: 65/44 – Rain likely; breezy and damp late.
Mon: 51/32 – Mostly cloudy, cooler; rain tapering off early.
Tue: 50/33 – Mostly sunny, crisp and dry for Veterans Day week.
