A Heat Advisory remains in effect across the Philadelphia area this Saturday, and forecasters warn that afternoon thunderstorms will return after a mostly quiet morning. According to CBS Philadelphia, the calm start to the day should not be mistaken for a safe window, heat and humidity will combine to fuel scattered storms beginning in the late afternoon hours.
Not all neighborhoods will see activity, but the strongest storm cells could bring wind gusts exceeding 60 mph, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, torrential rain, and isolated flash flooding. CBS Philadelphia reports that flash flood warnings are possible, and residents with outdoor plans later in the day should monitor radar closely.
Severe Weather Risk Level
The Storm Prediction Center has placed the region under a Level 1 risk for severe weather on Saturday. CBS Philadelphia notes that while widespread severe weather is not anticipated, the most powerful individual storms could cause significant local impacts.
What to Expect Through the Day
Most of Saturday will remain dry. The storm threat builds during the late afternoon and evening, mirroring the pattern seen on Friday. NBC Philadelphia meteorologist Bill Henley noted earlier this week that a stretch of afternoon and evening storm chances had been forecast to persist through the week and into the weekend, with temperatures in the low 90s feeling even hotter due to elevated humidity.
This follows a week of unsettled conditions that also affected the Baltimore area, where WBAL-TV reported steamy conditions with scattered heavy storms possible during evening hours on Friday.
Sunday and Beyond
CBS Philadelphia indicates temperatures will ease out of the 90s after Saturday. Sunday and Monday are expected to bring a break from storm activity, though heat will continue with readings still climbing into the low 90s, according to NBC Philadelphia’s forecast…