Storms could turn severe across the Philadelphia area this evening, and the first ones may arrive sooner than many people expect. Forecasters say scattered thunderstorms will start pushing into areas north of the city, including Central Jersey, around 5 p.m., carrying the risk of damaging winds, large hail and even an isolated twister into the overnight hours.
Here is the part most people are searching for. The window to watch runs from the early evening through roughly midnight, and the heaviest activity is expected to hug the late commute and dinnertime. It is the last rough stretch before a stretch of much calmer weather arrives for the holiday.
When the storms are expected
The setup is straightforward. A hot, sticky afternoon builds the energy, and a passing system triggers the storms once the day peaks.
Rain holds off for most of the daylight hours, with temperatures climbing into the mid-80s under a mix of sun and clouds. The first storms build north of Philadelphia near 5 p.m., then spread through the region. Overnight, showers and thunderstorms are likely with a very high chance of rain, and some storms could stay strong past midnight…