Philadelphia woke Monday to clear skies, crisp temperatures in the low 40s and a forecast that looks almost suspiciously pleasant for late October. Sunshine will push the city to about 64 degrees this afternoon, with north winds keeping things breezy but dry.
Sunny Monday Gives Way To A Cool Night
The National Weather Service in Mount Holly expects northerly winds of 5 to 10 knots tonight. Frost concerns remain strongest north and west of the I-95 corridor, though forecasters do not expect a hard freeze in the immediate Philadelphia area.
Coastal Flooding Builds Tuesday
The bigger regional concern is an offshore nor’easter that will strengthen northeast winds along the New Jersey and Delaware coasts. A Coastal Flood Advisory is in effect from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday for several shore counties, and additional rounds of minor coastal flooding are possible Tuesday night and Wednesday.
The flooding concern comes from persistent northeast winds pushing water toward the coast, with several high-tide cycles potentially running high—not just Tuesday evening’s advisory window. The National Weather Service expects minor tidal flooding Tuesday evening, another round late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning, and further coastal flood hazards Wednesday, with Wednesday evening potentially the most concerning cycle. In vulnerable coastal and bayside spots, even minor flooding can affect roads and cause closures, the agency says in its coastal flood notice and forecast discussion.
For Philadelphia, the storm should be more of a coastal and marine problem than an inland rainmaker. Shore travelers and boaters should expect rougher conditions, with coastal gusts potentially reaching 30 to 35 mph and seas building offshore.
Marine conditions are hazardous even where a gale watch was canceled: a Small Craft Advisory covers New Jersey’s coastal waters from Sandy Hook to Manasquan Inlet through 6 p.m. Wednesday. The National Weather Service forecasts northeast winds of 15 to 25 knots, gusts up to 30 knots and seas of 7 to 10 feet in that zone; its marine alert says conditions will be hazardous to small craft. Delaware Bay waters also have a Small Craft Advisory through noon Wednesday, with gusts up to 30 knots and choppy water.
Mostly Sunny Weather Holds Through The Weekend
Tuesday should reach about 67 degrees under mostly sunny skies. The rest of the week stays mostly sunny and largely dry through Friday, with highs in the low to mid-60s Wednesday through Friday, while overnight lows remain mostly in the 40s.
The calmer outlook is a notable update from Sunday’s Hoodline forecast, which focused on the city’s chilly start and the storm developing offshore. Inland Philadelphia can plan around sunshine for most of the week, but coastal plans may need a closer look through Wednesday.
