Philadelphia is starting Sunday warm and sticky, with temperatures around 75 degrees early and a high expected near 93. The city should get plenty of sunshine for most of the day, but an isolated shower or thunderstorm could pop up after 2 p.m. as the heat builds.
Sunday Stays Mostly Dry, But Storms Could Pop
Westerly winds will increase to around 5 to 10 mph, offering only limited relief from the heat. The current forecast calls for a 20% chance of rain, and any storm that develops could bring a brief burst of heavy rain, lightning or a strong wind gust before fading by sunset, according to the National Weather Service.
There are no active watches or warnings posted for Philadelphia in the current outlook. Still, the combination of upper-90s heat index readings and high humidity means outdoor plans will be more comfortable with water, shade and a little flexibility built in.
Monday Brings A Bigger Storm Threat
Monday looks even hotter, with mostly sunny skies giving way to a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. The high could reach 94 degrees, while stronger storms may bring damaging wind and a quick downpour.
Showers and thunderstorms could continue Monday night, when rainfall totals of a quarter-inch to a half-inch are possible in spots. Tuesday remains unsettled, with a high near 90 and another 50% chance of storms, although the severe-weather threat appears less certain than Monday's setup.
Cooler, Drier Weather Finally Arrives
Storm chances linger into Wednesday and Thursday, but temperatures should ease into the upper 80s. A more noticeable break arrives Friday and Saturday, when highs are forecast near 84 and 83 degrees, respectively, with lower humidity and mostly sunny skies.
In other words, Philadelphia gets one more hot summer push before the atmosphere finally stops acting like it has somewhere to be. Sunday is mostly a sunshine day, but anyone heading out after lunch should keep an eye on the sky as the week turns stormier.
