Storm's Impact On Thanksgiving Weekend Travel In Philly Area: Forecast

EASTERN PA — A near-perfect Turkey Day is shaping up for the greater Philadelphia area, but rain is threatening in the days following, which could throw a wrench into weekend plans, according to forecasters.

Sunny skies and highs in the low 50s are expected on Thanksgiving Day throughout the Delaware Valley. That could change.

"While the days leading up to Thanksgiving and the holiday itself are expected to feature largely dry conditions across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, conditions may quickly change as holiday shoppers head out in search of deals next Friday," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.

Rain could start as soon as after 1 a.m. overnight Thursday into Friday, the National Weather Service said.

There is about a 50 percent chance of rain on Friday, with that likelihood tapering off into the evening, officials said. "Even areas that do not face significant impacts from precipitation could endure gusty winds late next week that could add extra turbulence to flights across the eastern half of the nation and require motorists to keep a firm grip on the steering wheel," AccuWeather added.

The storm front is likely to help sweep away the bitter cold temperatures lingering to start the week.

"This is the coldest morning so far this season in many locations across our area," the National Weather Service's Mt. Holly, New Jersey branch said early Monday, though they added that a "preliminary check" indicated no records had been broken. Things dropped into the upper-teens in parts of the Philadelphia suburbs Sunday night into Monday night, with a low of 23 degrees in the city itself.

However, things are expected to warm in the coming days.

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

Monday

Sunny, with a high near 43. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Monday night
Mostly clear, with a low around 28. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Tuesday

Sunny, with a high near 49. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tuesday night

Mostly clear, with a low around 30. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

Wednesday

Sunny, with a high near 53. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday night

Clear, with a low around 31.

Thanksgiving Day

Sunny, with a high near 54.

Thursday night

A chance of rain after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 40. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday
A chance of rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 56. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Friday night

A chance of rain before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Saturday night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 39.

Sunday

A chance of rain. Mostly sunny, with a high near 52. Chance of precipitation is 30%