A changing weather pattern is expected across the Delmarva Peninsula this weekend, featuring a brief surge of warmth followed by rounds of showers and thunderstorms as a cold front sweeps through the region.
A developing low pressure system tracking through the Great Lakes will push a warm front northward across Delmarva on Saturday. This will place the region firmly in the warm sector, allowing temperatures to climb well above normal. Afternoon highs are expected to reach the upper 70s to low 80s under a mix of clouds and sunshine, providing a springlike feel across Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia.
Conditions will begin to shift late Saturday into Sunday as the trailing cold front approaches. This front is expected to bring multiple rounds of showers, and potentially a few thunderstorms, through the day on Sunday. While current global model guidance does not indicate a strong signal for widespread severe weather, this remains something to monitor. It is common for finer-scale details, including any severe potential, to become clearer as higher-resolution models come into range over the next couple of days.
One notable aspect of this system is the increase in atmospheric moisture. Precipitable water values are forecast to climb into the 1.3 to 1.5 inch range by Sunday, which is near the climatological maximum for early spring. This suggests the potential for locally heavier downpours, although widespread flooding is not anticipated at this time. Current projections indicate around a half inch of rainfall across much of the region, though localized higher amounts are possible depending on how showers and storms evolve.
Temperatures on Sunday will trend cooler compared to Saturday, with highs generally in the mid 60s to low 70s as clouds and precipitation become more widespread.
Behind the cold front, a noticeable pattern change will take place heading into early next week. Cooler, more seasonable air will settle into the region, bringing afternoon highs back into the 50s for much of Delmarva. This marks a return to near or slightly below average temperatures after the brief warmup over the weekend.
