Forecast discussion
What forecasters are seeing
Plain-English forecast narrative from the local NWS office. Issued by NWS PHI.
100
FXUS61 KPHI 050747
AFDPHI
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ
347 AM EDT Sun Jul 5 2026
.WHAT HAS CHANGED...
A Flood Watch has been issued for a large portion of the area from
around the urban corridor northward beginning this afternoon as we
are growing increasingly concerned about flash flooding this
afternoon through Monday.
&&
.KEY MESSAGES...
1) Multiple rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected
to impact the area late today and continuing through Monday bringing
the threat for flash flooding. A Flood Watch is in effect from 2 PM
this afternoon until 8 PM Monday for areas from around the urban
corridor extending northward.
2) Severe weather remains a threat with showers and storms later
this afternoon through this evening with the greatest threat
existing for areas near the I-78 corridor southward.
3) Impacts from prolonged heat and humidity will continue today even
though the high temperatures and max heat indicies will not be as
high as recent days.
&&
.DISCUSSION...
KEY MESSAGE 1... Multiple rounds of heavy showers and thunderstorms
are expected to impact the area late today and continuing through
Monday bringing the threat for flash flooding. A Flood Watch is in
effect from 2 PM this afternoon until 8 PM Monday for areas from
around the urban corridor extending northward.
The showers and thunderstorms from this past evening have diminished
however a diffuse frontal boundary remains situated across the
area. This may continue to bring a few isolated showers through
this morning but no severe weather or flooding is expected
through midday. However as we get into the mid to late
afternoon expected storms to bubble up once again in response to
diurnal heating plus weak impulses moving through aloft. The
column will be more saturated compared to yesterday with PWATs
progged to be over 2 inches. At the surface the front will
stalled roughly over Delmarva into southern NJ while aloft the
area will be under the favorable right jet entrance dynamics of
a a jet streak over New England extending into the Canadian
Maritimes. This pattern looks to lock in place not just for
today but likely right through Monday. The upshot will be heavy
showers/storms becoming quite widespread across the area by
early this evening. Rain rates of over 2 inches per hour are
likely at times and model guidance indicates there will be areas
likely to see 3-4+ inch rainfall amounts in just a matter of a
few hours within the heaviest storms. This will certainly be
enough for flash flooding and given these recent trends we`ve
gone ahead and issued a Flood Watch for flash flooding that
encompasses our forecast zones from around the urban corridor
extending northward as these are the areas likely to see the
heaviest rainfall amounts. Timing wise, there could be some
heavier scattered showers/storms around mainly over NE PA into
NW NJ as early as the mid to late afternoon but it really looks
to be the evening period when heavy storms will be quite
widespread.
Getting into the overnight period of Sunday night, showers/storms
should temper down at least somewhat due to the loss of daytime
heating however there will still be plenty of frontal forcing
at the surface and jet support aloft to at least keep some
showers and possible storms around. This is not a setup where
convection will be completely dying after sunset. Lingering
elevated instability will mean even overnight lightning will be
possible.
Unfortunately, very little change is likely into Monday. Expect
showers/storms to linger over the area and potentially become quite
widespread and heavy by the afternoon period once again leading to
more instances of flash flooding.
Impacts from flash flooding could be significant over the next
couple days. Areas facing the greatest threat from flash flooding
will be urban and lower lying areas and areas around streams and
creeks as these are likely to exceed their banks in spots.
The heaviest of the rain should diminish overnight Monday night but
even into Tuesday there are likely to be some more showers and
storms around even though they are not likely to be as widespread
and intense.
KEY MESSAGE 2... Severe weather remains a threat with showers and
storms later this afternoon through this evening with the greatest
threat existing for areas near the I-78 corridor southward.
The storms discussed above will also have the potential to produce
severe weather late this afternoon through this evening. ML CAPE
values could once again exceed 2000+ j/kg with modest shear. Expect
multi-cell clusters to be the dominant mode with damaging winds
being the biggest threat. The Storm Prediction Center has the
majority of our area in a SLIGHT risk for severe storms meaning
scattered severe storms will be possible. The highest threat for
severe weather looks to be areas near and south of the I-78 corridor
where it will be more unstable closer to and south of the front.
The severe weather threat will diminish by mid to late evening as
the lower levels start to stabilize and instability becomes
more elevated.
KEY MESSAGE 3...Impacts from prolonged heat and humidity will
continue today even though the high temperatures and max heat
indicies will not be as high as recent days.
Today will not be as hot as recent days due to a front that has
moved southward into our area. However it will remain quite muggy
with most area seeing high temperatures ranging from the upper 80s
to mid 90s. While this is not as hot as recent days this will still
be enough to result in continuing heat impacts due to the long
duration of these high temperatures and humidity. We have a Heat
Advisory in effect for today that includes all areas except the
Poconos and Sussex County NJ. Further cooling can be expected
for the new work week so we don`t expect heat headlines being
needed beyond today.
&&
.AVIATION /07Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG,
KILG, KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas.
Rest of overnight...Showers have ended for the most part but
expect some patchy mist and fog around that could drop visbys to
MVFR...especially for ABE, TTN, PNE, and MIV. Winds light and
variable. Moderate confidence.
Sunday...VFR through most of the day although there`s the
chance showers/storms could affect RDG and ABE as early as the
20-22z time frame. And if that happens these sites could see
restrictions at least down to MVFR. Winds variable but
generally favoring a SW to SE direction at 4-7 knots. Moderate
confidence.
Outlook...
Sunday through Monday night...Scattered to widespread showers
and thunderstorms with sub-VFR conditions expected at times.
Tuesday...Still some showers around that could bring sub VFR
conditions.
Wednesday...Mainly VFR.
&&
.MARINE...
A few showers may linger over the waters through this morning
along with the potential for some areas of mist and fog. Another
round of showers and thunderstorms is likely to impact the
waters this evening and could produce localized wind gusts over
40 knots.
Outlook...
No marine headlines are currently anticipated for Monday however
by later Tuesday into Wednesday seas could reach 4 to 6 feet.
Rip Currents...
For Sunday, winds will be from the east around 10 mph with gusts up
to 15 mph in the afternoon. Breaking waves will be around 1-2 feet
or less. There will be a weak southeast swell with a period around 8
seconds. This results in a LOW risk for the development of dangerous
and life threatening rip currents at the Jersey Shore and at
Delaware Beaches.
For Monday, winds remain east around 10 to 15 kt, with gusts to 20
kt in the afternoon. Resulting increasing NE wind wave could drive
an elevated MODERATE Rip Current Risk along the Jersey Shore, with
LOW risk persisting over the Delaware Beaches.
For specific beach forecasts, visit weather.gov/beach/phi
&&
.CLIMATE...
There were some Record High temperatures across the area
Saturday.
All Time Record High Temperatures
Site Record / Date
Allentown (ABE) 105 / July 3, 1966
AC Airport (ACY) 106 / June 28, 1969
AC Marina (55N) 104 / August 7, 1918
Georgetown (GED) 104 / July 22 & 23, 2011
Mount Pocono (MPO) 103 / July 3, 1911
Philadelphia (PHL) 106 / August 7, 1918
Reading (RDG) 106 / July 22, 2011
Trenton (TTN) 106 / July 9, 1936 & July 22, 2011
Wilmington (ILG) 107 / August 7, 1918
All Time Record Warmest Low Temperatures
Site Record / Date
Allentown (ABE) 79 / July 15, 1995
AC Airport (ACY) 84 / July 23, 2011
AC Marina (55N) 82 / July 21, 2019
Georgetown (GED) 84 / July 23, 2011
Mount Pocono (MPO) 76 / July 12, 1952
Philadelphia (PHL) 83 / July 24, 2010 & July 23, 2011
Reading (RDG) 81 / August 7, 1918
Trenton (TTN) 84 / August 11, 1895
Wilmington (ILG) 84 / August 7, 1918
Record Number of Consecutive 100+ Degree Days
Site Record / Date
Allentown (ABE) 3 days / July 9-11, 1936 & July 2-4, 1966
AC Airport (ACY) 3 days / July 2-4, 1966 & July 22-24, 2011
AC Marina (55N) 1 day / Occurred multiple times
Georgetown (GED) 2 days / Most recent June 24-25, 2025
Mount Pocono (MPO) 1 day / July 3, 1911
Philadelphia (PHL) 3 days / July 2-4, 1966 & July 8-10, 1993
Reading (RDG) 3 days / Most recent July 21-23, 2011
Trenton (TTN) 3 days / Most recent July 21-23, 2011
Wilmington (ILG) 3 days / Most recent July 9-11, 1936
Record High Temperatures
July 4
Site Record / Year
Allentown (ABE) 102 / 1949
AC Airport (ACY) 102 / 1966
AC Marina (55N) 99 / 1966
Georgetown (GED) 100 / 1966
Mount Pocono (MPO) 99 / 1911
Philadelphia (PHL) 103 / 1966
Reading (RDG) 100 / 1911 & 1966
Trenton (TTN) 99 / 1919, 1999, & 2010
Wilmington (ILG) 102 / 1966
Record Warmest Low Temperatures
July 4
Site Record / Year
Allentown (ABE) 75 / 1999
AC Airport (ACY) 75 / 1974, 1983, 1999, & 2002
AC Marina (55N) 79 / 2002
Georgetown (GED) 75 / 1999 & 2012
Mount Pocono (MPO) 70 / 2002 & 2013
Philadelphia (PHL) 79 / 1919
Reading (RDG) 78 / 1966
Trenton (TTN) 78 / 1966
Wilmington (ILG) 76 / 1999
&&
.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...Heat Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening
for PAZ060>062-070-071-101>106.
Flood Watch from 2 PM EDT this afternoon through Monday
evening for PAZ054-055-060>062-070-071-101>106.
NJ...Heat Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening
for NJZ007>010-012>027.
Flood Watch from 2 PM EDT this afternoon through Monday
evening for NJZ001-007>010-012-013-015>019.
DE...Heat Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening
for DEZ001>004.
Flood Watch from 2 PM EDT this afternoon through Monday
evening for DEZ001.
MD...Heat Advisory from 8 AM this morning to 8 PM EDT this evening
for MDZ012-015-019-020.
MARINE...None.
&&
$$
DISCUSSION...Fitzsimmons
AVIATION...Fitzsimmons
MARINE...Fitzsimmons