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Leap into puddles: Heavy rain expected, thunder possible

Leap Day will be marked by heavy rain moving in later this morning, bringing a soggy end to February.

Leap Day will be marked by heavy rain moving in later this morning, bringing a soggy end to February.

A storm moving eastward from Ohio should bring rain the heaviest rain by about 1 p.m., with the potential for thunderstorms. Rainfall is expected to continue throughout the day with a high of 46.

Precipitation could amount to between three-quarters of an inch to an inch.

The rain will continue through midnight and ending by early morning. There seems to be little chance of it changing to snow in the Philadelphia area, with lows only dipping to 44.

But Thursday, the onset of March, should see some clearing. It's expected to start cloudy then gradually turn sunny with a high near 55.

Friday looks to be nice and pleasant with a high of 52.

So, today, Leap Day looks to be a dreary one.

If you forget, Leap Day is an extra day added during a Leap Year. That extends the year to 366 days as an adjustment to the Gregorian Calendar, which is a slightly faulty attempt at a solar sync.

In other words, leap years correct the calendar to align with the Earth's revolutions around the sun.

The Earth really takes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, and 46 seconds to complete a circle the sun.

The Gregorian calendar has only 365 days in a year. That makes it much easier on everyone - rather than attempting to squeeze in a fraction of a day each year.

But that also means about 6 hours a year are not figured into the calendar. So, every four years, another day gets tacked on (6 x 4 = 24) to compensate.

Although Leap Day doesn't have the celebratory cache of say, Groundhog Day or St. Patrick's Day, it does have some folk tales associated with it - and Leap Year - according to the Old Farmer's Almanac and elsewhere.

-The weather changes on the Friday after Leap Day.

-In some cultures, it is considered bad luck to marry during a leap year.

-Women may propose marriage in a leap year.

But what if you're a 'leaper' - one who is born on Leap Day? They get to celebrate on the day of their choosing in non-leap years: Feb. 28 or March 1.