April 28th, 2011 Forecast

Severe weather is definitely possible in the region over the next 24 hours as our first fling of summer comes to a thundery end.  After multiple days of mid 80 degree temperatures and now humidity that's more typical of August, reality returns...thankfully this reality won't be too terribly cold as temperatures behind the upcoming front will be typical for late April (mid and upper 60's on Friday).

Thunderstorms are possible this evening and overnight, generally west of the city.   Any storms that fire up and move through have the potential of bringing heavy rain and gusty winds to any one location.   It will be a warm and humid night with breezes from the south and southwest picking up to 10-16 mph overnight.   It would not surprise me if low temperatures in the city across parts of the Philly region did not drop below 70 either as clouds will help keep temperatures up overnight.

Right now, the front is poised to cross the city during the 2-5 PM timeframe, accompanied by a several hour period of heavy rain and thunder that could bring an inch or more of rain to the region.  Severe thunderstorms (damaging wind) is also possible in advance of the frontal boundary passage.  Temperatures should warm into the mid 70's around Philly before the rain and thunder hit, cooling off to around 70 before the front and then sliding back late in the afternoon after the front crosses the region.   Winds will gust to 30 mph ahead of the front, possibly to 50 mph or higher in the strongest of storms.

We'll have a more thorough update on the thunderstorm threat for Thursday in the morning.