Today could see some extreme weather, before a pleasant weekend settles in.
The foggy morning should give way to light midday showers followed by a hot and perhaps stormy afternoon, with a high in the mid 80s and possible scattered thunderstorms.
Small hail is possible, but a bigger worry is that the storms could kick up damaging gusts of 40 m.p.h. or more, said meteorologist Jim Hayes of the National Weather Service.
Thunderstorms could bring brief downpours, while many areas could just see a little rain.
“I’m not seeing a solid line of storms coming through,” Hayes said.
If the storms materialize, they’ll likely start after 2 p.m., and in some areas could happen near drive time, he said.
The high might challenge the year’s hottest day so far, April 16, when 89 was recorded for Philadelphia International Airport. May 4’s record high of 91, set in 2001, is probably safe.
The heat won’t become a wave.
Saturday morning could see some lingering showers, then give way to mostly sunny skies with a high in the mid 70s.
A mostly sunny Sunday should be see a high in the low 70s.
Showers might return Tuesday through Thursday.
For more on the forecast, go to Philly.com’s weather page.
Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.
