Philadelphia woke up Friday, April 3, under a gray blanket of low clouds, patchy to locally dense fog and light drizzle. Temperatures are sitting in the mid-40s, and many neighborhoods and river corridors are reporting reduced visibility. Drivers and commuters should plan on slower trips through the morning while the marine layer hangs on.
Foggy Morning Commute
Widespread fog is expected to linger into the late morning, with visibility dropping below a quarter mile in spots and pockets of dense fog possible. Bridges and shaded routes could turn slick, so give yourself extra time and stick with low beams if the fog thickens. Low ceilings and patchy drizzle could also tangle early flights and slow transit, according to the National Weather Service Mount Holly.
Afternoon Warm-Up
A warm front should slide through this afternoon, helping to break up the low clouds and allow temperatures to jump into the mid-70s, with many spots nearing 75°F by late day. South to southwest winds will pick up to around 5 to 15 mph, so the second half of Friday will feel much milder than the damp, gray start. If you have outdoor plans, the stretch after noon is expected to be the sweet spot.
Weekend Outlook
Saturday may end up as the warmest day of the run, with inland highs potentially pushing into the low 80s and a legitimate shot at record-challenging warmth for parts of the region. A cold front is expected to move in Sunday, bringing showers and scattered thunderstorms with gusts around 25 to 35 mph and pockets of heavier rainfall. Widespread severe weather is not currently expected, but locally heavy downpours are on the table. Temperatures are forecast to settle back into the 50s and 60s early next week as more seasonable air returns.
Boaters and Flights
Mariners should be ready for dense fog and small-craft conditions along coastal waters, with seas building into the 4 to 6 foot range nearshore. If you are flying today, check with your airline before heading to PHL. The FAA's PHL airport status page lists weather as light drizzle and fog this morning, and low ceilings could still affect early departures. For now, it is smart to watch local forecasts and give yourself extra travel time through Friday morning.
