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Expect freezing temperatures and wind chills in the 20s Wednesday in the Philly area

Philadelphia's temperature hasn't dropped to 32 on an April 22nd in over 30 years. It has a chance Wednesday morning.

A pedestrian shields from the rain with an umbrella in Center City on Tuesday.
A pedestrian shields from the rain with an umbrella in Center City on Tuesday.Read moreJOSE F. MORENO / Staff Photographer
    by Anthony R. Wood
    Updated 
    Published 

After expected near-gale-force gusts well into Tuesday night, the National Weather Service is calling for a hard freeze Wednesday morning with a brisk wind that will drive wind chills into January levels.

Despite the urban heat island effect, Philadelphia has a shot at reaching the freezing mark, said Lee Robertson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly. That hasn’t happened officially on an April 22 since 1988, and that was the only the second time it had occurred in the period of record, dating to 1874. The record for the date, 30, was set in 1875.

The chill comes in the wake of a line of thunderstorms that breezed through the region between 1 and 2 p.m., generating gusts to 59 mph at Philadelphia International Airport and 56 mph in Burlington County, along with reports of half-inch hail in Camden County, and quarter-inch in Norristown, Upper Bucks County, Wilmington, and elsewhere.

But only widely scattered power outages were reported in the region.

The storms were set off by a passing cold front that threatens to chill the region with yet another freeze.

» READ MORE: Once again, frost and freeze advisories posted for Philly area as April’s winter break continues

A freeze warning is in effect for the entire region for Wednesday morning.

Strong winds will send wind chills into the low and mid-20s overnight, but they also will inhibit frost from forming. Winds can keep cold air from settling on the ground and other surfaces.

» READ MORE: Meteor shower drought ends as Lyrids peak Tuesday night into Wednesday morning

In what might qualify as news these days, Wednesday is supposed to be sunny all day. But don’t get used to it. Significant rain is expected Thursday into Friday, and rain chances are in the forecast through the weekend.

Afternoon highs, in the 50s and low 60s, will remain several degrees below normal.

And for late Tuesday night and early Wednesday, the forecast calls for a 100% chance of showers — meteor showers, that is.

Skies have cleared, and the Lyrid meteors, perhaps 20 an hour, should be visible from about 10 p.m. on. Dress warmly.