EASTERN PA — The midweek balm of average temperatures and relatively clear skies will end this week as a new round of storms hits the greater Philadelphia area.
A chilly Wednesday will give way to sunshine and seasonable temperatures before periods of rain begin on Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. The heaviest rain is expected Friday afternoon through Friday night, forecasters added, with showers expected to linger through Saturday night.
Heavy rain may lead to localized flooding where accumulation is most significant and in flood prone regions, while fog could make travel conditions difficult throughout the area.
Most of the Philly region has a 70 to 80 percent chance of seeing more than one inch of rain through Saturday, “though some embedded heavier rain looks likely to the point some spots may get as high or even over two inches of rain.”
Meteorologists at AccuWeather added that some slushy snow is possible north of the suburbs, in the Poconos.
“Should the storm linger longer than Friday night, additional cold air feeding into the storm could bring snow levels lower and increase snowfall over the mountains,” AccuWeather said.
The rain could improve drought conditions around the state, as much of Pennsylvania is still at a severe or moderate level, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map.
Here is the forecast in southeastern Pennsylvania, according to the National Weather Service:
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 52. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday night
Increasing clouds, with a low around 37. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Thursday
A slight chance of rain after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Southeast wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Thursday night
Rain likely, mainly after 8 p.m. Cloudy, with a low around 43. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Friday
Rain. High near 51. East wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Friday night
Rain. Low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
Saturday
Rain likely before 2 p.m., then a chance of showers after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 54. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent.
Saturday night
A chance of showers before 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58.
Sunday night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 43.
With reporting from Patch correspondent Michelle Rotuno-Johnson
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