Residents of Philadelphia should be ready to break out the umbrellas and raincoats this week as the city is forecast to experience a series of scattered showers and rain, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The dreary weather kicks off today with a 40% chance of precipitation and scattered showers expected mainly after 1 pm. The overcast skies will accompany a mild high near 53 degrees, while a calm wind is to slowly become easterly around 5 mph. Locals can anticipate less than a tenth of an inch of new rainfall, if any at all.
The NWS further predicts that tonight, the spotty showers will give way, turning into likely rain after midnight, with new precipitation amounts estimated between a quarter to half an inch. The city could also see some patchy fog spanning from 11 pm until the stroke of midnight, adding to the gloom. As the temperatures dip to around 45 degrees, the calm winds are expected to shift to the northwest, picking up a gentle pace of around 5 mph. The chance of precipitation is set to increase significantly to 70%.
Thursday's outlook appears even more waterlogged, as rain is forecast to prevail throughout the day with high chances pegged at 90%. Temperatures will hover near 53 degrees once again, with light northwest winds turning north and ranging from 5 to 10 mph by the morning hours. The city should brace itself to receive new rainfall amounts somewhere between three quarters and one full inch, so Philadelphia's streets and gutters might run full.
Heading into Friday, the heavy clouds are forecast to part ways gradually as the rain probability tapers to 60% mainly before midnight. It's projected to be a cooler evening with a low around 39 degrees and northwest winds starting to show their might at 10 to 15 mph. The metropolis is to be doused with potentially an additional tenth to a quarter of an inch of rain. Philadelphia can expect to finally dry out on Friday as the sun makes its anticipated return and conditions turning breezy, clear skies, and a high near 55 degrees. Gusts could reach up to 35 mph, marking a sharp contrast to the days' prior calm.
For those planning weekend activities, Saturday is looking up with mostly sunny weather and a high around 61 degrees, but Sunday brings yet another chance of rain, as does Monday's forecast, keeping with a recurring wet theme. The early week doesn't let up with rain likely both Monday night and Tuesday, so Philadelphians should better keep their rain gear at hand.
Further updates on this wet weather forecast can be tracked on the NWS website, here.
