Philadelphia woke up mostly clear and about 57°F at 5:40 a.m. ET on Friday, April 24, 2026, but the calm start is not sticking around. Today will be partly sunny and cooler than earlier this week, with a high near 72°F and an east breeze around 5 to 10 mph. A slight chance of showers creeps in after about 5 p.m., so tossing a light umbrella in your bag for the ride home is a smart move.
Tonight
Rain becomes more of a player Friday night as lows slip to around 48°F. Showers are expected to pick up late evening into the overnight hours, with the chance of precipitation sitting near 60% and only light totals anticipated through the first night. Forecasters at the National Weather Service Mount Holly note this is just the opening round of a wetter weekend.
Saturday Into Sunday
The main event arrives Saturday, and it is a raw one. Steady rain combined with an onshore east wind will hold afternoon highs near a chilly 53°F. The heaviest rainfall is expected Saturday into Saturday night, with about 0.5 to 1.0 inch possible locally. From Friday night through Sunday, most of the region is looking at a total of roughly 1 to 1.5 inches of rain.
If you have outdoor plans, bank on soggy conditions, gusty winds that make umbrellas a losing proposition, and potential schedule shuffles. For more on how quickly this week’s weather has flipped, see our earlier coverage of this week’s spring flip.
Marine And Travel Impacts
Out on the water, boaters should be ready for Small Craft Advisory-level conditions to develop Saturday, with sustained easterly winds of 15 to 20 mph and gusts up to 25 to 30 mph. Gale-force gusts are possible late Saturday night into early Sunday over the ocean waters. Seas offshore could build to 6 to 10 feet, and visibility will drop in heavier rain and patchy fog, which could slow ferries and affect river crossings.
On land, expect slick roads and gusty winds that may slow the Saturday commute and complicate outdoor events. Check your transit apps and event pages before heading out. These marine and wind concerns are highlighted by the National Weather Service Mount Holly.
Bottom line: keep the rain gear close and give yourself extra travel time this weekend. Conditions should start to improve early next week, with temperatures rebounding into the mid-60s by Monday and Tuesday, so the soggy stretch looks to be brief.
