Winter is about to make another rush into Delaware, and it might include a little snow.

The First State is going to see highs drop from the mid- to upper-40s to the freezing mark by the end of the week, according to the National Weather Service forecast.

After a pleasant Jan. 13, which will feature sunny skies and highs around 46 in New Castle and 50 in Sussex County. However, that will change on Jan 14 as colder temperatures and precipitation move into the area.

There won’t be much snow, but with temperatures at or below freezing the commute will be rough.

What’s the Delaware weather forecast?

New Castle County: The front will move into the county after 1 p.m. on Jan. 14 with a 30% chance of rain in the county. Highs will be in the mid-40s. Rain will continue through the overnight hours and chance over to snow as temperatures drop into the upper 20s. Little to no snow accumulation is expected, but roads could be icy Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Rain and snow are expected until 1 p.m. Jan. 15 with highs near 35.

Kent County: The county will enjoy a sunny Jan. 13 with temperatures hitting 51 degrees. The cold front will move in during the overnight with rain before 4 a.m. and a wintery mix after 4 a.m. with the lows dropping to 30. On Jan 14, there’s a chance of rain and snow before 1 p.m. with highs reaching 38. Little to no snow accumulation is expected, but roads could be icy Wednesday night into Thursday morning

• Former NFL player Tito Paul is hosting a fundraiser for the Delaware County Historical Society.
• The event, called Game On, will take place on Jan. 14 at the Meeker House and The Barn at Stratford.
• Paul will be joined by other former Ohio State and NFL players to share stories and answer questions.

An Ohio State alumnus, a former Cincinnati Bengals player, a Super Bowl champ and an insurance agent walk into a room … but there’s no punchline because they’re all the same person.

Tito Paul is well-known for his gridiron past, which includes playing for Ohio State, where he was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft in 1995, and winning Super Bowl XXXIII with the Denver Broncos in 1999.

But some folks may not be aware that he’s also a superstar in Delaware County, where his State Farm agency receives consistently high reviews.

Football fans will have the chance to meet Paul at Game On, a fundraiser for the Delaware County Historical Society (DCHS) on Jan. 14 at the Meeker House and The Barn at Stratford, 2690 Stratford Road, Delaware. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

The event will begin with a meet-and-greet from 6:15-7 p.m. in the Meeker House before moving to The Barn for the rest of the evening. A pizza party and soft drinks are included in the admission price, and beer will be available for purchase.

Paul will be joined by friends who also played for Ohio State, the NFL or both for an evening of football stories, NFL experiences and personal accounts of what it means to play in and win a Super Bowl. A Q&A period will follow the discussion.

In addition to Paul, guests will include:

• Ty Howard: Ohio State, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans
• Michael Wiley: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Dee Miller: Ohio State, Green Bay Packers
• Mike “Buster” Tillman: Ohio State

A young 32-foot humpback whale washed up on shore along the Delaware coast last week after it may have been struck by a large ship, according to the MERR Institute, a rescue and care facility for marine mammals in Lewes, Delaware.

The whale, estimated to have weighed at least 20,000 pounds, washed up in the Bethany Beach community on Jan. 8 after it had been floating at sea for a couple of days.

Whale likely struck by a ship

The MERR Institute said the humpback whale was in the surf zone throughout Thursday night before heavy equipment moved it to the shore the next day. 

Marine officials said the tossing and churning in the surf caused gases to form and inflate the tongue. MERR Institute’s necropsy team then performed a post-mortem examination on Friday, Jan. 9. 

Officials said the whale had subdermal hemorrhaging and a broken jaw on the right side, and that an injury of that nature is often associated with a large ship strike. Officials said the whale was likely still alive when it was struck by the ship.

MERR Institute officials said the whale was buried on the beach, which is “the most common practice for the disposition of the body. These large whales cannot be safely towed out to sea, so burying them on the beach allows them to become an important part of the beach ecosystem.”

“This was a tragic event, and we would like to thank everyone who helped to support us in our examination of this whale,” said MERR executive director Suzanne Thurman. “MERR’s volunteers were as wonderful as ever, and worked tirelessly to assist in examining the whale in a very short window of time. We would also like to thank DNREC for providing heavy equipment resources for towing and burial of the whale. They were able to tow the whale up onto the beach so we could safely examine it, and their staff was indispensable in helping us to position the whale so that we could get as much information as possible.”

Thurman continued, “And last but certainly not least, we would like to thank the very kind homeowners in Ocean Ridge. They looked out for our volunteers by sending down coffee and doughnuts, letting us use their bathroom, and for showing so much caring and compassion for this beautiful animal. We always appreciate the fact that we live in a community that cares so much about the ocean and its creatures.”