A severe weather front could move into the greater Philadelphia area on Thursday, potentially bringing torrential rain, damaging winds, and scattered thunderstorms, forecasters said.
Inclement weather is forecasted to start in the later afternoon and could continue into the evening hours.
In the most severe cases, rain could fall at a rate of up to 1 to 3 inches per hour. A flood watch will be in place from noon Thursday to 4 a.m. Friday.
"Widespread flash flooding still seems unlikely, but the localized threat has increased," the National Weather Service said.
High winds were identified as the greatest danger from the storm.
Humidity will rise before the rain moves in.
A half-inch to 1 inch of rain is generally expected across the state, even where torrential amounts do not accumulate.
The National Weather Service advised that they have "low" overall confidence in their exact forecast as the storm is fast moving and could change strength or location before it arrives.
Here's the full forecast for the region over the coming week, according to the National Weather Service:
Wednesday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before noon, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between noon and 3 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 87. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m., then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. 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 before 8 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night
A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 71.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 73.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 89.
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