Strong storms are possible in the Philly area Friday, followed by frost and real fall weather
Expect a 100% chance of October weather, and that should be good for the foliage show.
In advance of the chilliest air mass of the season, potent thunderstorms are possible late Friday afternoon into the evening, and then major changes are in the winds.
The federal Storm Prediction Center lists a 30% chance that gusts approaching 60 mph are possible.
In addition, “We can’t rule out a stray tornado,” said Joe DeSilva, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.
But strong winds are far likelier than any twisters, he said.
And then expect about 100% chance of October, with frost looking likely Sunday morning.
When severe storms might arrive in Philly
The prime time for any severe storms would be between 5 and 7 p.m., said DeSilva.
The rains likely would pause until then, but “clouds will be slow to erode,” he said. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as less solar energy would be available to give a kick to storms.
Temperatures are forecast to crest past 80 degrees during the afternoon in Philly, but then so much for the retro-summer.
Frost is likely in the region Sunday morning
After the rain shuts off Friday night with the passage of a powerful front, temperatures are due to tumble into the 40s, and on Saturday may get stuck in the low 50s, or about 30 degrees cooler than the highs on Friday.
Early Sunday they could drop into the low and mid-30s, said DeSilva. If skies remain clear and winds light enough to allow the daytime heat to escape, patchy frost is likely to coat the car roofs and ground foliage in the region.
Highs Sunday are forecast to be in the mid- to upper 50s, which would be about 10 degrees below normal.
Temperatures during the workweek could get no higher than the mid 60s, with nights in the 40.
And it’s should be looking more like fall. The Philly region’s peak foliage-color period is a bit away, based on the behavior of recent seasons, but the show should be getting a boost, according to the weekly leaf report from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
“The expected cooldown this weekend will rapidly intensify the transition to vibrant shades across all of Penn’s Woods,” it said.
Said DeSilva, “Finally, some real fall weather.”
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