DELMARVA FORECAST
Friday: Increasing clouds. Becoming breezy in the afternoon as showers develop. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Friday Night: *Tropical Storm Conditions Likely* Rain likely, heavy at times. Windy. Lows in the mid 60s. Winds from the northeast 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph or more likely. Stronger winds at the coast, where flooding and beach erosion are likely. Chance of rain 90 percent.
Saturday: *Tropical Storm Conditions Likely* Rain likely, heavy at times. Thunder possible in the afternoon. Windy. Highs in the low to mid 70s. Winds from the northeast 25 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph or more likely. Stronger winds at the coast. Chance of rain 90 percent.
Sunday: Showers likely. Breezy. Highs in the low 70s. Chance of rain 40 percent.
Monday: Lingering showers, then partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s. Chance of rain 30 percent.
Tuesday: A few showers. Highs in the mid 70s.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 70s.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs around 70°F
FORECAST DISCUSSION
Normal high: 78°F. Normal low: 58°F.
*Tropical Storm Warning for the Lower Eastern Shore and Eastern Shore of Virginia*
Delmarva is bracing for a significant storm system that will affect the peninsula starting Friday afternoon through Sunday.
Potential Tropical Cyclone "Sixteen" formed Thursday off the Carolina Coast. As it feeds on the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, it is possible that it could become Tropical Storm "Ophelia" sometime on Friday, and will be the next weather maker for Delmarva.
Friday will start off quiet, with partly cloudy skies that will quickly become cloudy as the morning rolls on.
"Sixteen" is forecast to track nearly due north across eastern North Carolina and toward the Chesapeake Bay.
Winds will pick up from the northeast by midday, and those winds will become gusty by afternoon as rain showers approach from the south.
As wind and rain overspread Delmarva Friday evening, tropical storm conditions are likely across much of the area.
Over land, during the overnight expect periods of heavy, wind-driven rain. Winds will gust to 40 mph or more at times. At the coast, winds will gust to 50 mph or more at times. Beach erosion is likely, as is coastal and tidal flooding, primarily around the time of high tide, which will be between 2 and 3 a.m. Saturday morning.
Tropical storm conditions will continue on Saturday. Some thunderstorms could be possible Saturday afternoon, that will come with a spin-up tornado threat.
All of Delmarva should expect at least one to two inches of rain, but some locations could receive three to five inches or more, so flooding could also become a problem in inland areas as well.
Gusty showers will likely continue on Sunday as conditions gradually relax by Sunday evening.
The long-term 8-14 day outlook has temperatures averaging above normal and precipitation slightly below normal for September 29-October 5.