Clouds are parked over Philadelphia on Thursday morning, March 19, with temperatures stuck in the mid 30s and a light southeasterly breeze. Observations around the city show readings near 36°F, but the chill will ease as the day goes on. Expect some breaks of sun and an afternoon high near 52°F.
Thursday Into Thursday Night
This afternoon should turn partly sunny with a light south wind around 0 to 10 mph and a high near 52°F. Skies become mostly cloudy overnight, with temperatures dipping to around 36°F. It stays dry through Thursday night, giving most commuters a calm window before a warmer, wetter Friday moves in. Those details line up with the latest forecast from the National Weather Service Mount Holly.
Friday Night Commute Watch
Friday, March 20, turns noticeably milder, with a high near 62°F and only a slight chance of rain before the afternoon. By Friday night, though, rain becomes the main story, with forecasters calling for roughly a 70% chance and new rainfall amounts generally between a tenth and a quarter of an inch. That is just enough to slow the evening commute in spots. On the water, boaters should be ready for rougher conditions, as Small Craft Advisory conditions are possible late Friday into Friday night while southwest winds pick up and seas build.
Weekend Warm Up And Timing
Saturday, March 21, stays on the mild side with a high near 65°F and a chance of light rain before 8 a.m., followed by mostly sunny skies later in the day. Sunday, March 22, is expected to be the warmest of the stretch, with highs near 69°F before another cold front brings showers Sunday night into Monday. For background on the recent run of unseasonable warmth and early March storms, see Hoodline’s March coverage of the earlier warm spell and evening storms: steamy March heat.
How To Plan
Keep a compact umbrella handy for Friday evening plans and build in a little extra time if you are driving, since brief downpours could cut visibility and make bridges slick. For outdoor plans on Saturday or Sunday, late morning through afternoon looks like your best bet for drier conditions. Boaters and shore residents should keep an eye on marine forecasts through the weekend, as seas and gusts may spike Friday night and again Sunday night.
