Weather tomorrow: Tornadoes, hail and cold rain hit Delaware and New Jersey before Friday snow chances

Severe storms swept through the Philadelphia region on Thursday, spawning tornadoes in Delaware and New Jersey and leaving piles of hail across parts of Pennsylvania. The National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down in New Castle County, Delaware. Local forecasters say the same low-pressure system will now bring a cold rain, snow showers and gusty winds as it moves out, making weather tomorrow a concern for residents and drivers.

Tornado and hail damage across the region

In New Castle County, a hotel sign at the Sonesta ES Suites on Chapman Road in Newark fell during the storm and crushed cars in the parking lot. Images show a Honda Accord with a shattered windshield and its bumper torn off. A medical helicopter at Christiana Hospital was also damaged, with one aircraft spun around and another suffering a broken rotor, according to WDEL. ChristianaCare told WDEL that the hospital remained under normal operations during and after the storm.

In Delaware County, Pennsylvania, massive piles of hail covered parts of Parkside Borough. Crews along Route 352 shoveled hail off the road after several drivers got stuck, prompting officials to close the area. PennDOT crews later cleared several inches of hail from the stretch. No injuries were reported.

Edward Beebe, deputy director of Delaware County Emergency Services, said he had never seen anything like it from a hailstorm in his 42 years of service. Local residents described the hail running down the street like a river. Reports of quarter-sized hail were also logged earlier in the afternoon near North East, Maryland, and along the I-95 corridor.

Friday forecast: cold rain and possible snow

Forecasters expect a cold rain to settle over the region overnight and through Friday. Snow showers or flurries could arrive Friday evening into Friday night in the Pennsylvania suburbs, possibly leaving a light coating at the highest elevations. That could make travel tricky Friday evening into Saturday morning.

Temperatures will reach the 40s on Friday but will feel like the 30s due to northwest winds gusting up to 30 mph. Saturday is expected to be mostly cloudy and dry, with a cold start. Wind chills could fall into the upper 20s or low 30s Saturday morning before the breeze eases in the evening.

Damage surveys and tornado rarity

The National Weather Service had not determined the tornado's strength as of Thursday, and survey teams were scheduled to examine damage in New Castle County and Burlington County, New Jersey, on Friday. Officials said crews would head to Chesterfield and Bordentown, after a preliminary survey Thursday evening was suspended due to darkness. Full survey results are expected Friday afternoon or evening.

According to the Midwestern Regional Climate Center at Purdue University, this is only the third November tornado recorded in Delaware since records began in 1950. Delmarva Power reported no major power outages, though several traffic signals were dark, especially near Chapman Road.

What we know so far

The storms have passed, but cold rain and possible snow are forecast for Friday, with wind chills falling Saturday morning. Officials are still expected to publish the strength rating and path of the Delaware tornado after Friday's surveys. Residents and drivers should watch for updates from the National Weather Service as the results come in.