Tropical Storm Nicole Approaches Philly Region: What To Expect

EASTERN PA — The latest powerful weather front out of the Gulf of Mexico, Tropical Storm Nicole, is expected to hammer the Greater Philadelphia region on Friday, potentially bringing with it severe impacts.

Powerful rain, up to an inch and a half overall, could fall in eastern Pennsylvania, the National Weather Service said.

Wind gusts approaching 40 miles an hour are also forecasted for the region.

There's the potential for more severe localized weather where thunderstorms fall, forecasters said.

Timing for the storm has changed slightly. While it was originally predicted to last only through Friday, storm impacts will now likely be felt into Saturday, forecasters said.

Rain will begin overnight Thursday into Friday, with rain and wind predicted through the day Friday and thunderstorms Friday into Saturday.

The path of the storm's strongest impacts has also slightly shifted. AccuWeather meteorologists said the zone of heaviest rainfall has now moved west. Central and western Pennsylvania are now likely to see more downpours than eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

The heavy winds could spell trouble for the Jersey Shore. While the National Weather Service projects gusts topping out at about 40 mph, AccuWeather forecasts peak gusts of 40-60 mph up the coast Friday night. The long duration of those winds may lead to above-normal tides, coastal flooding and beach erosion into the weekend, AccuWeather says.

The full forecast from the National Weather Service is below:

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 67. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday night

A slight chance of rain after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 54. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Friday

Rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 2pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 70. East wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday night

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 64. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Saturday

Rain and possibly a thunderstorm before 8am. High near 67. West wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.