Philadelphians are no strangers to unpredictable weather, but the latest forecast from the National Weather Service in Philadelphia warrants attention for those who prefer to stay dry and warm. The NWS has indicated that today's steady rain will give way to patchy fog come the afternoon. Temperatures are expected to hover near 46 degrees, while an east wind around 5 mph accompanies the rain that has a certainty of occurring. "Rain, mainly before 11am. Patchy fog between noon and 2pm," states the NWS forecast, emphasizing the 100% chance of precipitation with new amounts tallying up between a tenth and quarter of an inch.
The coming nightfall is projected to bring mostly cloudy skies, with a minor drop in temperature around 37 degrees and a north wind making a shift to the west after midnight. Driving through the 6 mph wind, the NWS advises caution as visibility can sometimes drop to 2.5 miles in such conditions. Looking ahead to Saturday, a partly sunny day with a high near 49 degrees is to greet the city, as northwest winds pick up the pace between 5 to 10 mph.
Rain may be sporadic over the weekend, mingling with snow in the latter parts of Saturday night, continuing a dance through Sunday as the two elements swap leads throughout the day. "A chance of rain after 1am, mixing with snow after 4am," reports the NWS, predicting that little to no snow accumulation is expected. Citizens should brace for a high near 40 degrees Sunday with a blend of rain and snow that comes with a robust chance of precipitation at 90%.
As the week begins, the possibility of snow lingers before Monday afternoon, accompanied by chillier temperatures and cloudy skies. The forecast indicates a low around 31 degrees Sunday night, and snow, perhaps entwined with rain, is expected to turn to all snow after 7pm — an indication that warmer layers and perhaps snow boots should be kept close at hand. "Snow, possibly mixed with rain, becoming all snow after 7pm," notes the NWS, predicting potential new precipitation amounts between a quarter and half an inch.
The week's outlook appears to trend toward clearer skies with mostly sunny conditions by Tuesday, though nighttime temperatures could dip to around 23 degrees. Philadelphians can anticipate a return to mostly cloudy weather mid-week with a high reaching near 42 degrees, and the pattern of wintry mix might make a comeback with a chance of rain both Wednesday night and Thursday with respective chances of precipitation marked at 50% and 40%.
