Coastal Storm With Heavy Rain Moves Into Philly Region Saturday

A strong coastal storm is headed to the Philadelphia region Saturday, and will bring torrential downpours and thunderstorms, as well as unsettled conditions to last through the upcoming week, according to forecasters.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch that starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and goes though early Sunday morning. Gusty winds are also likely with this storm, the NWS said.

Heavy rain is expected from this afternoon into this evening. Between two and four inches of rain is likely, and much of it will fall over a period of just a few hours, forecaster with the NWS said.

"Excessive rainfall in a short amount of time can lead to flash flooding. Urban areas, locations along small streams and creeks, and areas of poor drainage are most vulnerable to flash flooding," the flash flood watch announcement said.

According to forecasters with NBC10, rain will start in southern Delaware and South Jersey Saturday morning, then move into Philadelphia area in the early afternoon. The heaviest rain is predicted to fall between 7 and 11 p.m. on Saturday.

A high temperature of 75 is predicted for Saturday.

The storm will usher in days of unsettled weather. There is a chance of showers or thunderstorms everyday through at least Friday, the NWS forecast says.

Here is the forecast:

Today: Showers, mainly after 1pm. High near 75. East wind 9 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tonight: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 3am, then showers likely. Low around 64. Northeast wind 9 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Sunday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. South wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a low around 72. Southeast wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Monday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm. Cloudy, with a high near 83. South wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Monday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 72. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 85. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. Chance of precipitation is 40%.