The skies above Philadelphia opened up today, bringing heavy rain and the possibility of thunderstorms as the day progresses. According to NWS Philadelphia, the deluge is expected to continue, with "new rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible." The high winds, paired with the rain, could make for hazardous travel conditions. East winds of 15 to 20 mph, with gusts soaring as high as 40 mph, have been forecast for the area.
For those bracing for tonight, the bad news is there's a chance of showers until about 9 pm. After the storms give way, residents can expect cloudy skies initially which will gradually clear with temperatures dropping to a low around 48 degrees. The Southwest wind will remain steady around 10 mph. The National Weather Service advises that total precipitation amounts could be between a tenth and quarter of an inch.
The advisory from the National Weather Service doesn't stop at rain. A Coastal Flood Advisory has been declared, as they predict "up to one half foot of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways." Affected areas include counties in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania, such as Gloucester, Camden, and Northwestern Burlington, alongside Delaware, Philadelphia, and Lower Bucks in Pennsylvania.
This flooding could lead to road closures as waters begin to overtake the most vulnerable roadways along tidal regions. Precautions should be taken when parking near flood-prone areas, and driving through flood waters is strongly discouraged, potentially leading to vehicle damage or personal harm. The National Water Prediction Service provides additional water level and flood impacts information for your local tide gauge, which can be accessed for further reference. The Delaware River at Philadelphia is expecting tides to rise as high as 8.6 ft MLLW this evening, just touching the cusp of minor flooding impacts.
The return to brighter skies is forecast for tomorrow, with mostly sunny conditions and a high nearing 56 degrees. However, the wind will remain a factor, with the prediction of a west wind blowing 15 to 25 mph and gusts possibly reaching 45 mph, according to the detailed forecast from NWS Philadelphia. The weekend should follow suit with sunny and mostly clear conditions predicted from Saturday through Wednesday.
