Tornado, Flooding, Damaging Winds In Philly Area Forecast: NWS

PENNSYLVANIA — Strong to severe thunderstorms are headed for the greater Philadelphia area on Friday, with forecasters expecting 60 mph winds, large hail and flash flooding to slam the state starting in the afternoon.

The large, slow-moving front is expected to impact much of the Eastern Seaboard.

"The same storm responsible for multiple days of showers, thunderstorms and severe weather over the Central states will continue to move slowly along as the week draws to a close," Accuweather reports. "The timing of the storm system will bring the same troublesome conditions to the Appalachians and Atlantic Seaboard from Friday into Saturday as millions hit the roads and airports to begin their first unofficial summer holiday weekend."

“A tornado or two are also possible,” the National Weather Service said in a tweet Friday morning.

The National Weather Service has already issued a flood watch for several counties, including Berks, Carbon, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery, Lehigh, Bucks, Monroe, Northampton, and Philadelphia. Localized flooding is possible across the state in vulnerable areas like rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying locations.

“The showers and thunderstorms will be capable of producing locally heavy rainfall totaling in excess of one to two inches, which may lead to areas of flash flooding," the National Weather Service said.

All counties are also under a hazardous weather outlook issued by the weather agency.

The heavy rain may start around 1 p.m. in the Philadelphia area, with the storms moving west to east, and thunderstorms mainly after 5 p.m. Severe storms are slated to wrap up in the wee hours of Saturday morning, transitioning to lighter rain showers.

Saturday should see the chance of rainfall waning after 11 a.m., with mostly sunny skies in the afternoon and a high near 80.

And for those with Memorial Day Weekend plans, the forecast is shaping up to be in your favor. Sunday and Monday are expected to see sunny skies with highs in the mid- to upper 80s. In fact, the forecast is clear through Wednesday, as temperatures next week ramp up to the 90s on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Here’s the latest forecast, per the National Weather Service:

Friday

A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Areas of fog before 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday night

Showers and possibly a thunderstorm, mainly before 2am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2am. Some of the storms could produce gusty winds and heavy rain. Low around 65. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Saturday

A chance of showers before noon, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between noon and 3pm, then a chance of showers after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. West wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday night

A chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 83. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.

Sunday night

Mostly clear, with a low around 64.

Memorial Day

Sunny, with a high near 90.

Monday night

Mostly clear, with a low around 70.