A tornado watch is in effect for the Philly region, with severe thunderstorms possible
Along with the tornado threat, a wind advisory is up for gusts to 50 mph.
What has been an eventful two months for the behavior of the atmosphere in the Philly region may take a volatile turn Monday, with forecasters warning of the potential for potent storms and even “a few tornadoes.”
A tornado watch was in effect for the entire region until 7 p.m., and a wind advisory was to kick in at 2 p.m. for gusts to 50 mph.
In its morning forecast discussion, the National Weather Service noted that the “threat for tornadoes is increasing.”
What’s going on up there?
“This is the season of the clash of air masses,” said Joe Wegman, a meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center. “Winter is trying to hold on and summer is gradually taking over.”
Some years, these transitions proceed smoothly; some years they don’t.
“This is a don’t,” Wegman said.
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On Monday the Northeast is getting its turn to contend with a potent storm that is affecting a significant portion of the country.
Blizzard warnings were up for parts of the Great Lakes region, but a surge of warmth ahead of the west-to-east moving storm caused temperatures to soar overnight around here, cresting past 60 degrees by daybreak in Philly.
Thunderstorms are possible any time before 11 p.m., the National Weather Service says.
However, the timing and just what areas would be worst-hit remain elusive to predict precisely, said Ray Martin, lead forecaster with the Mount Holly office.
“It’s more hit-and-miss than a winter storm,” he said. “You can really nail it, but some people are going to think ‘nothing really happened at my house.’”
The storms are due to back off late Monday night, followed by a return to winter on Tuesday with temperatures falling to freezing and struggling to get out of the 30s during the day.
Snow flurries are even possible, said Martin.
This story will be updated.