Dense fog is smothering parts of Philadelphia this morning, with temperatures sitting in the low 40s and visibility cut in spots. The gray soup is expected to linger through mid-morning before slowly lifting, and while most of the day looks just cloudy and cool, spotty light rain could pop up this afternoon with a high near 51°F. The steadiest rain holds off until tonight, so plan on wet roads and slower going for the evening drive.
Today's Timing And Travel Impacts
Patchy to locally dense fog, in some places dropping visibility to about a half mile, is likely to slow the morning commute and could lead to IFR or even LIFR conditions at area airports through the morning hours. Skies stay mostly cloudy with only about a 20 to 30 percent chance of light rain this afternoon. Once evening rolls in, rain chances jump sharply to roughly 85 to 90 percent, with most spots picking up a few tenths of an inch of rain and some neighborhoods seeing a bit more.
Out on the water, coastal and bay mariners should note a Dense Fog Advisory for some coastal waters through about 10 a.m., while Small Craft Advisory conditions are expected to hang on over the ocean into the early afternoon. These details come from the National Weather Service Mount Holly office.
Late Week And Weekend Outlook
Another round of showers, along with a chance for isolated thunderstorms, is possible Thursday night. After that, the pattern turns notably milder for the weekend. Highs are forecast to climb into the upper 60s on Saturday and could reach 70°F or higher early next week, with several opportunities for showers mixed in. If you have outdoor plans, expect the more springlike feel but keep an eye on the timing of those passing showers.
From Freezing Fog To Plain Old Rain
Just a few days ago we were talking about freezing fog and a brief wintry mix. Since then, the setup has shifted to something milder and wetter that looks likely to stick around into next week. For a refresher on that early week wintry mess, check out our earlier coverage Freezing Fog Slicks Philly Streets.
Travel Tips
If you are heading out this morning, build in a little extra time, slow down in low visibility and use your headlights. If you are flying or riding SEPTA, check airline apps and transit alerts for any fog related hiccups. And if you will be out late, a compact umbrella will come in handy once tonight's rain settles in.
