Philadelphia started Wednesday, May 13, 2026, on a bright note, with mostly clear skies and a morning low around 57F at Philadelphia International Airport. A steady southerly breeze is expected to push afternoon temperatures into the mid 70s, with a high near 76F. Late tonight, scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected to move in, so you may want to rethink any outdoor plans after dark.
Afternoon Winds Pick Up
Through the afternoon, look for mostly sunny to partly cloudy skies. South winds around 10 to 15 mph will gust near 30 mph, which will make it feel blustery along the river and on exposed bridges. Those gusts are enough to rattle patio umbrellas and send lightweight furniture skittering, so secure anything you do not want tumbling across the deck.
Tonight: Showers And Thunderstorms
Showers and thunderstorms are most likely after 8 p.m. Wednesday, with a 90% chance of precipitation and storm totals generally between 0.1 and 0.25 inches. Isolated heavier downpours are possible. Thunderstorms are in the mix, but widespread severe weather is not expected. Low clouds and reduced visibility could still push airport conditions to MVFR or IFR late tonight, according to the NWS.
Marine And Commute Impacts
A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for local waters from 6 a.m. through 10 p.m. this evening, with gusts building to 25 to 30 kt and ocean seas around 4 to 6 ft, so expect choppy conditions and occasional spray. Rush-hour commuters near the riverfront and anyone planning to boat tonight should be ready for blustery winds and pockets of heavy rain that can slow traffic and transit. Check the NWS for marine details.
Weekend Warm-Up
High pressure will build late this week and send temperatures much higher over the weekend, with highs in the low to mid 80s on Saturday and widespread 80s on Sunday. Some inland spots could touch 90F. Monday and Tuesday look even hotter, with forecast highs in the low 90s and higher humidity that could push heat indices up, so keep that in mind for outdoor plans. Forecasters say no widespread rain is expected while the ridge holds, though small pop-up showers remain possible at the edges.
Plan Ahead
If you have evening events, consider shifting them earlier, lining up a dry indoor backup, and having rain gear on standby. Secure lightweight outdoor furniture before the gusts and showers ramp up. This is an update to an earlier forecast, so see morning drizzle dampens Philly for the prior outlook and more context.
