NWS: Rain possible in Delaware during Labor Day weekend

DOVER — As the temperature climbed Wednesday, Ricky Sanabria planned to spend less time waiting for fish to bite.

With his pole in the water at Silver Lake Park, the Dover resident said he would be there 90 minutes at the most.

“Normally, I would stay a few hours, but it’s difficult now because you sweat so much,” he said, adding that he brought more water to drink than usual.

“I came out here anyway because I love fishing. I’ll push through the week, but I’d rather it not be so hot.”

Earlier, the National Weather Service had issued a nine-hour heat advisory for Kent and inland Sussex counties, beginning at 11 a.m. Wednesday, as heat index values up to 106 degrees were possible.

And, as Labor Day weekend approaches, NWS meteorologist Ray Martin said the weather in Delaware will likely be typical for this time of year.

There is potential for thunderstorms Saturday and/or Sunday nights from Middletown to southern Delaware, though he said the forecast is subject to change.

“It’s kind of typical weather, nothing too unusual for the holiday weekend,” he said from his office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, on Wednesday.

However, out of caution, “if you’re boating, just be ready, if a strong storm comes, to shelter or go to port," he said.  “There’s also a chance with these thunderstorms around that you could see severe weather, so that’s always something to watch out for.”

Looking ahead, the National Weather Service is forecasting cooler temperatures in Dover compared to Wednesday:

• Thursday — Partly sunny, with a high near 81. East wind 5-10 mph.
• Thursday night — A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 10. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind 5-10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday — A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 77. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Friday night — A slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday — A slight chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Saturday night — A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 and 2 a.m. and a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Sunday — A chance of showers before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday night — Partly cloudy, with a low around 67
• Monday  — Sunny, with a high near 81
• Monday night — Mostly clear, with a low around 58

For weather information, visit weather.gov/phi.