Severe thunderstorm threat shifts south of city

A severe thunderstorm watch is effect until 8 this evening for Delaware and South Jersey's Gloucester, Cumberland, Salem, Atlantic and Cape May Counties, according to the National Weather Service.

But the threat of damaging winds and large hail is no longer a worry for Southeastern Pennsylvania and Camden and Burlington Counties in South Jersey.

Those areas should see scattered thunderstorms, with "a few" that could bring "gusty winds and maybe some hail," according to a hazardous weather advisory.

This morning, the forecast said the city faced a "slight" chance of severe thunderstorms.

To qualify as "severe," a storm must have gusts of at least 58 m.p.h. and hail at least the size of a penny, explained Valerie Meola, a meteorologist with the Mount Holly office of the weather service.

The rainy weather could continue for a couple of days, take a weekend break, then return with more storminess Sunday night into Tuesday.

More thunderstorms could roll through tomorrow afternoon, but are not expected to be hazardous, the weather service said.

Rain also could dampen the rest of tomorrow and Friday, although the odds are 40 percent or less.

Saturday and most of Sunday are expected to have some sunshine with highs in the low 80s.

"A chance of showers and thunderstorms" - no more than 40 percent - is noted for Sunday night, Monday, Monday night and Tuesday.

For more on the forecast, go to http://go.philly.com/weather.