The National Weather Service has issued a dense fog advisory for the Philadelphia region, effective until 10 AM EST this morning. According to the Dense Fog Advisory forecast, visibility is expected to be one-quarter mile or less, affecting parts of New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the eastern shore of Maryland. With the fog creating the potential to severely impact travel, the NWS advises caution: "Low visibility could make driving conditions hazardous."
Meanwhile, an air quality alert is in place for the Philadelphia Metro area for today, February 18. The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission has declared a code orange alert, indicating that air pollution could reach levels unhealthy for sensitive groups. These groups include children, individuals suffering from asthma, heart disease, or other lung diseases, and the elderly. The commission strongly recommends minimizing strenuous activity or exercise outdoors to lessen the impact of the polluted air.
As for the weather outlook, Philadelphians should expect a wet end to the week. Today's forecast calls for rain likely, particularly between 3 pm and 5 pm, alongside widespread dense fog in the early hours. The chance of precipitation is marked at 60%, with new precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible. Cloudy conditions with a high near 45 degrees and calm wind shifting north at around 5 mph can be expected, as per the National Weather Service advisory. Going into the night, the odds for rain drop to 30% prior to 8 pm with possible patchy fog, and temperatures are anticipated to dip to a low of around 37 degrees.
Looking ahead, Thursday has a 40% chance of rain after 1 pm, with patchy fog lifting before 10 am and a high near 43 degrees forecast. The probability for precipitation jumps on Thursday night, with the NWS predicting an 80% chance of rain and amounts ranging between a quarter and half an inch. This pattern of rainfall is set to continue into Friday, which could see more than a quarter of an inch of new precipitation, before tapering off into the weekend with partly sunny skies and milder weather conditions.
