A winter system brought widespread light snowfall to the region. Much of Delaware received about 1 of snow, with upward of 2 across Sussex County from late on the night of the 10th into the early morning of the 11th.
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS PHI wrote it up.
A winter system brought widespread light snowfall to the region. Much of Delaware received about 1 of snow, with upward of 2 across Sussex County from late on the night of the 10th into the early morning of the 11th.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 10, 9:23 PM EST, 1 hour 37 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
923 PM EST Fri Jan 10 2025
.SYNOPSIS...
Low pressure centered well to our southwest will track
northeastward tonight, resulting in light snow overspreading
the area. As the low pressure pushes offshore of the Mid-Atlantic
coast early Saturday morning, high pressure begins to build
toward our area later Saturday. Surface high pressure holds
influence over the region later Saturday night through Monday,
then another shot of arctic air will arrive for Tuesday into
Wednesday.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 920 PM, the 00z Sterling/Dulles RAOB showed saturation
has taken place between 700 mb and 500 mb since early this
morning. This has resulted in the high clouds lowering to mid
level clouds across much of our region this evening. The RAOB
also showed a lot of dry air below 700 mb. Radar data shows
precipitation returns developing more across western Maryland
to northern/western Virginia this evening. There is a powerful
500 mb jet (around 100 knots) on the southeast side of an
upper-level trough from the Great Lakes back to the southern
Plains. The model guidance has this translating eastward along
with an uptick in a low-level jet around 850 mb. There will be
a period of forcing for ascent with these features between the
main trough well to our northwest and west and surface low
pressure well to our south and southeast. The entire area is
expected to see a period of mainly light snow overnight into
early Saturday morning. Overall though, little in the way of
changes were made to the snowfall totals with this update which
has a coating to an inch for the area with 1-2 inches across
Cape May County, NJ into parts of Delmarva. The highest amounts
of 2 inches is across Sussex County, DE where a Winter Weather
Advisory remains in effect overnight.
Otherwise, low pressure strengthens offshore Saturday morning
and moves farther away with any lingering light snow ending
early. There will be a tightening pressure gradient across our
area in the wake of this low pressure system. This will result
in an increasing northwesterly breeze Saturday which will turn
gusty in the afternoon. Cloud cover looks to hang on for awhile
Saturday, with more clearing expected toward the later part of
the afternoon. High Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid
30s, although colder in parts of the Poconos. The increasing
wind however will result in lowered wind chill values.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
Surface high pressure centered to our southwest Saturday night
will migrate eastward with time. This surface high pressure will
hold a dominate grasp over the region for Sunday and will
continue to hold influence over the region for Sunday night and
Monday as it moves generally eastward. A decaying cold front
from the west will approach the region Sunday night into Monday;
this weak boundary could pass through the region during the
time frame of later Monday into Tuesday.
Not much to write home about regarding the short term forecast
today. Given the pattern (i.e., high pressure mainly in
control), a dry forecast is on tap with no significant weather
expected. Some shortwave energy could propagate through Sunday
night and Monday causing an increase in cloud cover. Average
temperatures expected through the term.
&&
.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
The ensembles and deterministic models indicate a complex
upper-level pattern will take hold for much of the long term. An
upper-level low over the Great Lakes region Monday night moves
eastward with time and looks to move offshore Tuesday night into
Wednesday. Meanwhile, a classic Rex Block takes hold over and
offshore of the western CONUS with a meteorological col (i.e.,
weakness) centered to its east. The block and col look to stay
in place through at least Wednesday, possibly lasting into
Thursday. This overall upper-level pattern leads to a rather
challenging forecast with not much confidence in place.
Though there is low confidence in feature timing and strength,
the long term looks fairly benign for now with no significant
weather systems on the horizon. Multiple rounds of shortwaves
and weak fronts could propagate through the region during the
term (given the upper-level low progression and location), but
nothing significant to note from guidance at this time. In fact,
surface high pressure to our west looks to hold influence over
the region through much of the term, leading to a dry forecast.
Notable pressure gradients look to occur across the
northeastern CONUS Tuesday through at least Thursday; gusty
winds can be anticipate. Temperatures below average through
Thursday, then right around average Friday.
&&
.AVIATION /02Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG,
KILG, KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas...
Tonight...VFR ceilings lower to mostly MVFR after 06z. A period
of light snow after about 06z will result in visibilities
lowering to MVFR/IFR. West to southwest winds around 5 knots,
becoming light and variable or calm. Low confidence regarding
the timing details of the lower conditions overnight.
Saturday...MVFR or IFR conditions early as light snow ends, then
MVFR ceilings should improve to VFR into the afternoon. Light
and variable winds becoming northwest and increasing to 10-15
knots, with gusts 20-25 knots during the afternoon. Low
confidence regarding how long the sub-VFR conditions (mainly
ceilings) linger.
Outlook...
Saturday night through Monday...VFR.
Tuesday and Wednesday...VFR. West to west-northwest wind gusts
to 30 knots possible.
&&
.MARINE...
Small Craft Advisory issued starting Saturday afternoon as
strengthening low pressure offshore moves farther away, however
resulting in increasing northwesterly winds with gusts to 30
knots.
Outlook...
Saturday night...Small Craft Advisory conditions.
Sunday through Monday...No marine headlines anticipated.
Monday night...Small Craft Advisory possible.
Tuesday through Wednesday...Small Craft Advisory probable.
&&
.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...None.
NJ...None.
DE...Winter Weather Advisory until 1 PM EST Saturday for DEZ003-004.
MD...None.
MARINE...Small Craft Advisory from 1 PM Saturday to 4 AM EST Sunday for
ANZ430-431-453>455.
Small Craft Advisory from 4 PM Saturday to 4 AM EST Sunday for
ANZ450>452.
&&
SYNOPSIS...Cooper/Guzzo/Wunderlin
NEAR TERM...AKL/Franklin/Gorse
SHORT TERM...Cooper/Wunderlin
LONG TERM...Cooper/Wunderlin
AVIATION...Cooper/Gorse/Guzzo/Wunderlin
MARINE...Cooper/Gorse/Guzzo/WunderlinThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Light snowfall with totals ranging from 1-2 occurred across coastal Sussex County. The highest report was 1.8 from both Bethel and Selbyville.
Light snowfall with totals ranging from 1-2 occurred across coastal Sussex County. The highest report was 1.1 from Bethany Beach, although surrounding reports indicate higher totals likely occurred along the uninhabited portions of the coast.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Delaware in 2025Every state in 2025This day in weather historyWarnings in Delaware, January 2025
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 1231981, 1231979.