Drastic Weather Shift Expected In Philly Region

A drastic weather shift is in store for the Philadelphia region, forecasters say.

A significant warming trend in the eastern Pennsylvania will keep temperatures 5 to 10 degrees above normal over the coming days and could send high temperatures skyrocketing to 90 degrees by next week, forecasters said.

The weekend will be mostly balmy, with highs ranging from 65 to 70 for most of the Philadelphia region.

But highs will shoot up to 79 by Monday and 85 to Tuesday before a chance at cracking the 90 degree mark comes on Wednesday. It could break the all time record high for April 15 of 88 degrees, set in 1941, according to National Weather Service records.

Most parts of the region have not seen a 90 degree day since the middle of last summer.

Thunderstorms will threaten the midwest and parts of Pennsylvania on Wednesday, but they're currently predicted to miss most of the southeastern part of the state, according to Accuweather. If the storms do miss the Philly area entirely, temperatures are more likely to get higher, forecasters said.

"With temperatures rising, parents are strongly reminded never to leave children unattended in vehicles, where conditions can turn life-threatening within minutes," Accuweather said. "Always check the back seat before leaving a vehicle, even when not transporting children, as they may have climbed into the car unnoticed."

The United States at large experienced its hottest March in history this year, Accuweather said, with all of the southwest and much of the midwest and south seeing records broken. Pennsylvania also saw extreme temperature fluctuations, including shifts of as much as 41 degrees in 24 hours.

Here's the full forecast for the coming week around the Philadelphia area, according to the National Weather Service:

Friday
Mostly cloudy early, then gradual clearing, with a high near 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Friday Night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 50. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday
Partly sunny through mid morning, then becoming sunny, with a high near 65. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

Saturday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 43. Northeast wind around 5 mph.

Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 67. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 53.

Monday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79.

Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 85.

Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 64.

Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

Wednesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66.

Thursday
Partly sunny, with a high near 85.