By Craig Anderson

DOVER — The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory that remained in effect until 10 a.m. Friday as a mix of rain, snow, and sleet fell throughout the area Thursday.

The NWS forecast rain and sleet in the Dover area before 2 p.m. Friday, followed by rain in the afternoon and then a chance of rain, snow and sleet after 3 p.m. with a high temperature near 36 degrees. The chance of precipitation is 80%, with little or no snow and sleet accumulation expected.

No precipitation was forecast for the weekend, with mostly sunny skies predicted. Temperatures were forecast to range between 20 and 33 degrees Saturday, with a slight warmup to between 26 and 36 degrees on Sunday, according to the NWS.

There’s a chance of snow showers between 10 a.m. Monday, followed by rain showers. The likelihood of precipitation is 60%, the NWS said.

A similar forecast was issued for Sussex County, with rain in Georgetown before 5 p.m., Friday then a chance of rain snow and sleet. The weekend projected to be sunny, with temperatures ranging between 21 degrees on Saturday night to  near 38 degrees Sunday.

The advisory covers Kent County and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. along with inland Sussex County.

The NWS warned of slippery road conditions through at least Friday morning.

Just before 4 p.m. Thursday, 0.8 inches of snow had fallen in Dover, with 0.4 inches in Woodside and Smyrna, according to the Delaware Environmental Observing System. No snow was reported in Sussex County, Frederica or Harrington. There were 2.1 inches of snow that fell in Hockessin in northern Delaware.

Delaware State Police reported no road closures as of noon Thursday.

There had been eight property damage accidents in Sussex County, and three personal injury accidents, spokeswoman Master Cpl. Heather Pepper said. Two disabled vehicles were reported.

In Kent County, three property damage accidents and three disabled vehicles were reported.

New Castle County saw eight property damage accidents and seven disabled vehicles, according to DSP.

As primarily sleet and freezing rain fell in Kent and Sussex counties Thursday, Delaware Department of Transportation spokesman C.R. McLeod said, “Our focus as of now is on primary roads, which are slushy, and we are working to keep them from freezing over. Secondary roads will be icy until we feel comfortable that primaries are in good shape.

“(The) key message is to slow down and adapt to driving conditions. When the precipitation is falling, we are working to keep roads passable, not perfect, and the crashes we have seen (Thursday) could mostly be avoided by slowing down and leaving space between other vehicles.”

Due to inclement weather, state of Delaware offices in New Castle County closed Thursday. 

All  city of Dover offices closed at noon Thursday and were set to reopen at noon Friday. 

The Owens Campus of Delaware Technical Community College in Georgetown closed at 1 p.m., with all virtual classes and activities to proceed as scheduled.

Delaware Airpark in Cheswold was also closed to air traffic due to the wintry mix.

The Indian River and Cape Henlopen school districts were closed.