PA Weather: Rain Friday, Then Warm Weekend Ahead

PENNSYLVANIA — Rain showers will start the weekend with a risk of flooding in Pennsylvania, but the moisture will give way to a warm first weekend in May according to forecasters.

AccuWeather.com predicts showers Friday in Pennsylvania, but otherwise forecasts a seasonable spring weekend with temperatures 20-30 degrees above where they were earlier this week.

Showers are expected until early Friday evening, and there is a minor threat of coastal flooding for communities along back bays and tidal waterways on the Delaware River in southeastern Pennsylvania.

“This is due to the combination of the high astronomical tides, and otherwise higher than usual water levels,” the NWS said.

After the rain moves through, Saturday and Sunday appear to be good days for outdoor activities around Pennsylvania.

“Saturday should turn out to be the most pleasant day we've seen in at least a couple of weeks,” said the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, adding that Sunday also “looks seasonably warm.”

There is a chance for spotty showers in the region on Sunday, but forecasters say it will not largely impact Pennsylvania.

A jet stream pattern called an Omega block (for its shape, like the Greek letter Ω) locked in cold, unsettled conditions in the Northeastern states earlier this week, AccuWeather said.

As the Omega block breaks down in the coming days, the chilly temperatures in the Northeast will ease, said AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.

"In the Northeast, highs in the 40s and 50s that have been felt for much of the week will be swapped out for highs in the 60s and 70s in many areas by the weekend," Buckingham said.

Here is the latest weekend forecast the National Weather Service around southeastern Pennsylvania:

Friday
Scattered showers, mainly after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 62. Northeast wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday Night
Scattered showers before 8pm. Patchy fog after 1am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday
Patchy fog before 7am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 45. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 74. Light northwest wind becoming west 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Sunday Night
A slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.