Rainfall Estimates Increased As Powerful Coastal Storm Nears PA: Forecast

Forecasters are now calling for heavier rain in southeastern Pennsylvania this weekend as the powerful storm developing in the Atlantic, which could potentially become a hurricane, continues to progress toward the region.

While original projections called for a damaging and potentially severe weather event along the New Jersey coast, the latest update from the National Weather Service has anywhere from two to three inches of rain falling in the greater Philly area on Sunday and Sunday night.

That amount could continue to grow depending on the track of the storm and its strength.

The storm is likely to arrive in the Philadelphia area late Saturday into early Sunday, with the most significant impacts occurring from Sunday morning to Sunday night, forecasters said.

"Rainfall amounts may be excessive enough to result in areas of flooding, especially in urban areas," the National Weather Service's Mt. Holly, New Jersey branch shared.

Wind gusts of up to 40 miles an hour are expected around southeastern Pennsylvania.

Parts of the region farther west are likely to see less rain, forecasters said.

Accuweather says they're calling the front a tropical storm for now, but that it already has the strength of a hurricane.

"In a worst-case scenario, the storm could evolve to hurricane strength and turn inland over the mid-Atlantic with a zone where a significant storm surge, high winds and heavy rain occur just to the north of the center," Accuweather added.

The coastal areas along the Jersey Shore will see the most severe impacts, with tides rising 1 to 3 inches above normal, and storm surges of up to 6 feet possible, forecasters said.

Here's the full forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Friday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 65. Northeast wind around 5 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Friday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 52. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.

Saturday
Rain likely, mainly after 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday Night
Rain. Low around 60. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday
Rain. High near 64. Breezy, with a northeast wind 20 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 40 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Sunday Night
Rain. Low around 57. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Columbus Day
Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent.

Monday Night
Rain likely, mainly before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 56. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.

Tuesday
A chance of rain before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 67. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 54.