July 8th, 2011 Forecast

The story of the next 24 hours will be the threat of showers and thunderstorms around the region as a weak front stalls over the region, with a weak area of low pressure developing along the front and moving east.   This low will enhance the thunder threat so that more parts of the region will get some rainfall over the next day or so.   However, some spots will go dry while others pick up a couple of inches of rain in localized downpours.

Thunderstorms that are popping up/about to pop up will continue through the evening hours before diminishing some in coverage for a while overnight.   As the weak surface low develops later tonight out in the Ohio Valley, more thunderstorms could break out along the frontal boundary and lift northeast, meaning storms could return for the morning commute.  Essentially an on/off/on type of forecast regarding scattered thunderstorms.   Thunderstorms will continue in scattered fashion on Friday, with some localized downpours possible in spots (best chances appear to be along and just north of the front once it stalls out).   Predicting where the front stalls out is low confidence but based on consensus of the computer guidance the front should fizzle just south/east of Philadelphia but since summertime fronts are weak and quite fickle this is far from a sure bet.   Once the low moves on through Friday night, thunder chances will wane from northwest to southeast.

It won't storm at all times but the threat for thunder is there -- scattered at times tonight but with a noticeable break or breaks, with more numerous (but still scattered) thunderstorms for Friday.   If it isn't storming out, it will be humid.   Lows tonight will generally bottom out in the 68-74 range, with highs on Friday ranging from 80 at the Shore to the mid 80's inland.

Weekend Sneak Peek:  Humidity levels will decrease on Friday night with the front's slow push off the coast. Sunshine will increase on Saturday and the weekend looks quite nice but warm overall.   Expect temperatures in the upper 80's to near 90 both Saturday and Sunday, with low 80's at the Shore.  Lows will be in the 60's to around 70.