Philadelphia is starting Monday partly sunny and warm near 86°F, but the National Weather Service says showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop by early afternoon, so plan to wrap up outdoor errands before the sky turns on you around 2 PM.
Today’s Setup
According to the NWS Mount Holly office, a vigorous upper-level shortwave is sliding southeast out of the Great Lakes today, riding around a strong ridge parked over the Plains. That’s the trigger for a slight chance of storms between noon and 2 PM, becoming likely from 2 to 4 PM and continuing into the evening. Winds stay light out of the southwest at 0 to 10 mph, and rainfall of a quarter to half an inch is possible. The forecast discussion flags a Marginal Risk for severe weather today, so don’t be surprised by a rumble of thunder on your commute home.
Rain, Storm, And Flash Flood Risk
Tonight cools to a low around 69°F with a lingering chance of storms before midnight, then patchy fog settles in. Tuesday is the bigger concern: the NWS calls it the most impactful day of the week, with an 80% chance of showers and thunderstorms, gusts up to 25 mph, and 1 to 2 inches of rain possible. The Weather Prediction Center has placed the Northeast, including our area, in a Marginal Risk for excessive rainfall, so watch for ponding on low-lying streets and give yourself extra time if you’re near Kelly Drive or the Schuylkill River Trail.
Best Window To Be Outside
Morning through early afternoon today is your best bet for the Schuylkill River Trail, a bike ride, or getting the mowing in before showers return — just don’t push it past 1 or 2 PM.
What To Wear Or Bring
A packable rain jacket earns its keep this week, and if you’re catching a show tonight, a waterproof phone pouch keeps your ticket and phone dry on the walk in.
Tonight’s Events And What’s Ahead
Jill Scott plays The Met Presented by Highmark tonight, right in the thick of this afternoon’s storm chances — grab an umbrella for the walk in, and you can still find tickets on SeatGeek. Tuesday night, Metric, Broken Social Scene, and Stars hit The Met during what looks like the wettest day of the week, so find tickets on StubHub and plan for a soggy walk to the venue. Looking further out, TNA Wrestling comes to the Liacouras Center on July 30 (indoors, no weather worries there), and Morgan Wallen headlines Lincoln Financial Field on August 1 — outdoor gates mean it’s worth grabbing a Morgan Wallen t-shirt or Morgan Wallen hoodie now and checking the forecast closer to the date.
Tonight’s Meal Idea
With rain in the forecast through Tuesday, this is a slow cooker chili or Dutch oven beef stew kind of week. A programmable slow cooker or enameled cast iron Dutch oven makes it easy to have dinner ready when the storms roll through. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Unsettled, humid weather continues through midweek as dew points surge Tuesday, with Wednesday still unsettled behind the front. Once things dry out later in the week, it’s a good time to check the EGO Power+ Battery Deal for lawn work, and browse more outdoor gear deals for whatever sunshine comes next.
