Halloween Week Storm Threatens Philly Area With Heavy Winds, Downpours

A significant storm front is heading toward the greater Philadelphia area Halloween week, bringing potentially severe rainfall and high winds, forecasters said.

Some rain will begin late Wednesday night, but the brunt of the storm will hit Thursday, with potentially heavy rain beginning in the morning and thunderstorms arriving by 11 a.m., the National Weather Service said.

Up to two inches of rain is forecasted to fall throughout eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey Thursday.

Wind gusts of 40 to 50 miles per hour are also possible, and could result in some tree damage and power outages, the National Weather Service added.

The storm is expected to clear out by Thursday, will sunny skies on tap for Halloween on Friday. But some damage may linger.

"Rainfall totals of 1-2 inches may be excessive enough to result in some isolated minor flooding of urban, poor drainage, and low lying areas," the agency said.

Flooding will be a concern along the Delaware River in parts of Delaware, Philadelphia, and Bucks counties. Forecasters categorize the threat of coastal flooding as "minor," which is the middle severity ranking issued by the agency. Flooding is expected to peak late afternoon Thursday.

While Friday looks to be sunny with a high of 57, heavy wind gusts up to 40 miles per hour could continue throughout the day, making for windy trick or treating conditions.

Here is the full forecast for the coming week, according to the National Weather Service:

Wednesday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Northeast wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday Night
A chance of showers before 1 a.m., then rain likely after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday
Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 11 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 63. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Thursday Night
Rain, mainly before 2 a.m, then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Low around 48. Southeast wind around 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 57. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph.

Friday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 45.

Saturday
Sunny, with a high near 57.

Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 58.

Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 41.