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Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Philadelphia region

“It looks like our best chance for some strong thunderstorms would be in the late afternoon into early evening,” said meteorologist Dean Iovino.

Eighth and Market during the storm. (MARGO REED / Staff Photographer)
Eighth and Market during the storm. (MARGO REED / Staff Photographer)Read moreMargo Reed / File Photograph

Planning to throw some dogs on the grill this evening? You may want to rethink any dinner plans out on the patio.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the greater Philadelphia region in effect until 10 p.m. Wednesday, threatening damaging winds, lightning, localized flooding, and the possibility of Ping-Pong ball-sized hail.

As heat advisory is also in effect for the area until 8 p.m.

Temperatures hovered above 90 Wednesday afternoon on yet another hot and muggy day in the Philadelphia region.

“It looks like our best chance for some strong thunderstorms would be in the late afternoon into early evening,” said Dean Iovino, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, who noted that scattered storms are possible before then, too.

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While South Jersey and northern Delaware aren’t completely in the clear, the unfavorable weather is more likely to impact Philadelphia and areas to its north, Iovino said.

The heat advisory is set to expire at 8 tonight — the low will drop to the mid-70s — but that doesn’t mean the region has dodged the uncomfortable weather quite yet. Thursday’s high is expected to creep into the low 90s, and the heat index could once again make it feel more like 100 degrees.

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Friday and Saturday’s temperatures should come as a much-welcomed relief, though, with highs and lows for both days expected to make it just above 80 degrees and linger in the mid-60s at night.

The possibility of storms exists until Saturday.

Staff writer Oona Goodin-Smith contributed to this story.