Delaware may be in for more severe weather as thunderstorms roll in this weekend

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are in the offing for Friday night, forecasters predict.

Storms expected to hit the East Coast in the early parts of the weekend might arrive a bit later to Delaware, but forecasters say by Friday night the rain will be in full swing. 

Weekend weather patterns moving into Delaware are expected to resemble those that struck early this week, sparking a tornado that ripped through an area outside Laurel. South winds are blowing moist air up along the coast a bit earlier than usual. 

The storm outbreak blew in from the Gulf of Mexico and tornadoes have been reported in rural areas as the weather moves east. The pattern may gain strength near the Atlantic coast.

Daytime Friday may see scattered showers, but it will get wetter as the night wears on, according to National Weather Service Meteorologist Jonathan O'Brien.

The downpours may cause flooding and the storm may bring strong winds with it. Forecasters at AccuWeather said the Carolinas may be in for hail and tornadoes. 

AccuWeather said the risk of severe storms may extend into Maryland and Delaware.

O'Brien predicted some drying out Saturday and Sunday, though scattered showers could persist across the state. He said these heavy rains have come early this year.

"It's an unusually humid air mass for April," O'Brien said. 

Contact Adam Duvernay at (302) 319-1855 or aduvernay@delawareonline.com.

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