Isaac won’t be another Lee for Philly

By Tuesday, Isaac's center could be anywhere from western North Carolina to Western Pennsylvania, although its reach could extend much farther, according to a map from the National Hurricane Center. (National Hurricane Center)

By Peter Mucha, Inquirer Staff Writer

Posted: September 01, 2012

After a hot and sunny start, Labor Day Weekend could end with the arrival of the remnants of Hurricane Isaac.

Today, Philadelphia could see a high in the mid 90s for the first time since early August, and Saturday, as the two-day Made in America music festival begins on the Parkway, the high could hit the high 80s or low 90s.

Sunday brings a slight chance - 20 percent - of showers or thunderstorms, with a high in the mid 80s.

As a hurricane, Isaac dumped more than a foot of rain on parts of Louisiana, and could still douse parts of the Midwest with more than a half-foot as it moves through Missouri, Illinois and Indiana this weekend.

It's likely to keep diminishing as it heads eastward, with Pennsylvania at the northern edge of the possible paths.

Officially, the chances of rain for Philadelphia are 30 percent Sunday night, 40 percent on Labor Day, 50 percent Monday night and Tuesday, 40 percent Tuesday night, and 30 percent on Wednesday.

How much rain is still in question, according to meteorologist Mitchell Gaines of the National Weather Service.

A couple of inches might be the upper limit, according to a morning forecast discussion.

Forecasters don't foresee anything that rivals what Tropical Storm Lee brought last September, after it swept northward from the Gulf.

Parts of the city and suburbs got 6 or 7 inches of rain last Sept. 6 to 8 - more than from Hurricane Irene - and the Susquehanna Valley had catastrophic flooding.

Last August was the wettest month ever on record in Philadelphia, so already swollen waterways and saturated ground couldn't handle Lee's inundations.

Philadelphia's 2012 rainfall has been about 7 inches below normal, despite August's rainfall being about an inch above normal.

For more on the forecast, go to: http://weather.philly.com/US/PA/Philadelphia.html.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.