Philadelphia weather: Severe weather moves across region in time for evening rush
PHILADELPHIA - A round of strong storms will rock the Philadelphia area on Thursday before forecasters say sunny skies will take over in time for the weekend.
A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been used for the entire area as potentially severe and damaging storms are moving into the area.
The National Weather Service says Thursday's storms could bring bouts of heavy rain, strong winds, and possible hail.
Severe thunderstorm in Blue Bell, Pa.
As severe weather moved into the region, Blue Bell, in Montgomery County, saw damaging wind gusts and heavy rain.
What we know:
Temperatures will soar through the 80s on Thursday with added humidity that will make it feel much warmer.
FOX 29's Scott Williams says temperatures will peak around 90 degrees in Philadelphia, but the heat index will approach the triple digits.
The sultry conditions are setting the stage for a round of scattered late-day storms that forecasters say could turn severe in some places.
Severe weather to impact region | FOX Weather Philly
The FOX 29 Weather Authority is monitoring severe weather for a second day in a row.
Storms are beginning to make their way into the area late afternoon Thursday, with the NWS issuing a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for portions of New Castle, Chester and Delaware counties. The NWS states quarter-size hail and damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph are possible.
With any of the storms moving in, rain will be heavy at times and wind gusts could reach 75 MPH with the possibility of hail, frequent lightning and the slight risk of a tornado.
The severe weather threat is expected to last between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
The area under threat of storms stretches from northeastern Pennsylvania to northwestern North Carolina, potentially impacting roughly 27 million people, according to the National Weather Service.
What's next:
Friday will be the beginning of a sunny weekend that could culminate in our first heatwave of the year.
Temperatures on Saturday and Sunday will climb into the 90s with uninterrupted sunshine.
By Tuesday, forecasters believe temperatures could hit the triple digits.
What you can do:
Stay up to date on the incoming storms and the weekend heat by downloading the free FOX LOCAL app.