The Philadelphia area braces for a soggy week ahead, with patchy fog, rain, and a looming Coastal Flood Advisory, according to the National Weather Service. As the city hovers at a cool 40°F in mostly cloudy conditions, residents can expect the mercury to rise slightly, hitting temperatures in the high 50s by midweek. Wednesday may see less than a tenth of an inch of new precipitation, but this is just a prelude to the heavier rains forecasted for Thursday, promising up to an inch.
With the dreary outlook, driving conditions will worsen, with patchy fog developing after 2 a.m., and fizzling out before 8 a.m. on Wednesday. The winds remain tame, with slight easterly shifts throughout the evening. But traveling along low-lying roadways could turn tricky as some roads may be closed due to expected flooding, the National Weather Service warns in an advisory. Thursday night dials down with rain likely before 8 p.m., yet the real concern are predictions of coastal inundation, casting a wet blanket on the region.
In a more positive turn, the weekend ushers in calmer skies, with mostly sunny forecasts by Friday, tempered by breezy conditions. Temperatures are anticipated to climb near the 60-degree mark as the weekend progresses, granting a brief respite before the chance of rain pushes back into the picture on Monday—a modest 30% likelihood.
Meanwhile, coastal residents have greater concerns. The National Weather Service has issued a Coastal Flood Advisory effective until 7 AM EDT Wednesday, impacting areas including Gloucester, Camden, and Northwestern Burlington in New Jersey, as well as Delaware, Philadelphia, and Lower Bucks in Pennsylvania. "Up to one foot of inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways," states the advisory, signaling an alert for potential flooding. High tide times are estimated to the nearest hour, with the Delaware River at Philadelphia expected to reach minor flood stage severally, peaking on Tuesday afternoon at 8.2 feet, or 1.5 feet above the mean higher high water mark.
Residents are advised to keep extra time on hand when traveling, as some roads might be closed without warning, and to stay clear of barricades. Properties prone to flooding should be secured, with the reminder that it's better to err on the side of caution. "Do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth," continues the advisory, underscoring the dangers of seemingly passable flooded roadways. For updates and more detailed forecasts, check out the National Weather Service website.
