Heavy Rain, Thunderstorms, Flooding Possible This Weekend In PA: See Forecast

PENNSYLVANIA — Chances for rain will increase throughout the day Friday in parts of Pennsylvania with some thunderstorms possible. Forecasters say the weekend will bring more wet, stormy weather in the northeastern U.S.

On Friday, locally heavy rain may occur with a cold front approaching from the west, which is set to arrive in the region by late afternoon or early evening.

“Although some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds of 35 to 45 mph, the main threat will be heavy rain,” said forecasters with the National Weather Service. “any storms that go up will not have much movement, resulting (in) the potential for localized flooding.”

Friday’s chance of measurable rain will be most prevalent in the southeastern portions of Pennsylvania, said forecasters. There is a slight risk of excessive rainfall “mainly north and west of Philadelphia.”

Muggy conditions will continue as well, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 80s (a little cooler near the coastal regions, with some wind coming off the water). Heat index values are in the low-to-mid 90s with the humidity. The NWS said there may be a brief break from the humidity “maybe for a few days next week.”

There’s a chance of spotty thunderstorms again Saturday as this core of hot, humid air prepares to exit the area and another system of storms approaches, Accuweather.com forecasters said. The front will move in from the central U.S. where it is expected to “set of locally severe thunderstorms and torrential downpours over the middle of the nation.”

"Most of the time through Saturday will be free of rain in the Northeast, even where pop-up thunderstorms develop in the afternoon and evening hours," Accuweather said.

That will change Sunday, forecasters predict. As the storm turns northeast Sunday morning, it could pick up extra moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean, with the potential for heavy rain Sunday across the state. Rainfall rates could reach two inches per hour from Philadelphia to New York City as the system moves along Sunday, Accuweather forecasters said.

“Travel conditions are likely to deteriorate from southwest to northeast across the Northeast states from Sunday into Sunday night,” said Accuweather in their weekend forecast.

Here’s a look at the forecast through the weekend from the National Weather Service in southeastern Pennsylvania:

Friday: Partly sunny. Showers and thunderstorms likely this afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rainfall this afternoon. Hot with highs in the upper 80s. East winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 60 percent.

Friday night: Mostly cloudy. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly in the evening. Patchy fog after midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds, frequent lightning, and heavy rainfall in the evening. Humid with lows around 70. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent.

Saturday: Partly sunny. Patchy fog in the morning. A chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. Hot with highs in the mid 80s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Saturday night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Humid with lows in the upper 60s. Southeast winds around 5 mph. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Sunday: Showers likely in the morning, then showers and thunderstorms likely in the afternoon. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall in the afternoon. Humid with highs in the lower 80s. Southeast winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70 percent.

Sunday night: Thunderstorms likely. Showers likely. Some thunderstorms may produce heavy rainfall. Lows in the upper 60s. Chance of rain 70 percent.