980 FXUS61 KPHI 061752 AFDPHIArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 152 PM EDT Sat Sep 6 2025
.SYNOPSIS... A strong cold front will cross the region tonight. This front will become nearly stationary over New Jersey and Delmarva through Sunday, and weak low pressure may track on this boundary Sunday afternoon. The front departs Sunday night as high pressure builds in from the west for the start of the new week. Low pressure may track along the coast on Wednesday. A cold front will then cross the region Thursday into Friday.
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.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... Latest analysis depicts a slow moving cold front stretching from southeastern New York State across northeastern and south- central Pennsylvania into the central Appalachians, gradually creeping southeastward. Aloft, we are under a fast southwest flow with a large longwave trough over the Great Lakes and a shortwave over the Ohio Valley, approaching our region.
This front will not clear our CWA until Sunday morning after sunrise, slowed down by a potential wave of low pressure developing along it overnight thanks to the approaching shortwave. Plenty of warmth and humidity as coalesced ahead of the system thanks to southwesterly winds, with dew points approaching 70 and temperatures approaching 90. In addition, with the approaching shortwave, shear aloft has become quite strong. Thus, the stage is set for what we are already starting to see at this hour...scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms. The biggest risk appears to be damaging winds, so SPC has included most of our CWA in a Severe Thunderstorm Watch into this evening. There is a non-zero, but still low, tornado risk as well. An additional risk, particularly due to high moisture content and potential training/repetitive storm motion, is for flash flooding, especially in the urban corridor where runoff is always high no matter how dry its been. Considered a narrow urban corridor flash flood watch but have held off for the time being, but may revisit that in the next couple hours. That said, do expect some areas to receive 1-2 inches of rain, with locally up to 3, but if those occur in more rural locations, these should be relatively well absorbed by the rather dry ground we have presently.
Showers and perhaps isolated thunder may linger much of the night thanks to the aforementioned potential for secondary low development with the approaching shortwave, but with loss of surface heating and CAPE, we`ll likely see the severe risk dwindle this evening and the flood risk dwindle overnight. Lows will mostly be near 60.
With the slow moving nature of the front and potential for the low redevelopment, some clouds likely linger much of Sunday, and showers may do so as well especially in the morning, but the system should be truly clearing the region by late in the day. With the cooler air mass, limited sun and spotty showers, highs will be considerably cooler, mostly in the low to mid 70s.
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.SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... A shortwave axis will pivot through our area Sunday night. Behind this feature, flow aloft will weaken considerably, with subtle height rises taking place through Monday night under weak southwesterly mid- and upper- level flow. At the surface, the cold front will continue to shift east away from the area as high pressure originally centered over portions of the Midwest and Great Lakes is ushered in.
Dry conditions are expected Sunday night. Lows will be in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Monday should feature partly sunny skies and highs in the mid 70s. Monday night, a weak surface low off the US East Coast will begin to approach the area. This will place the region in an onshore flow regime, and increased cloud cover will likely result, especially near the coast. Nevertheless, it should remain dry with lows in the upper 40s to mid 50s.
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.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... Weak southwesterly flow aloft will continue across the region on Tuesday. Some enhancement to the flow will likely occur as the weak surface low off the East Coast makes its closest approach Tuesday night. Tuesday should feature dry conditions, partly cloudy skies, and highs in the mid 70s. Tuesday night, depending on how close the surface low gets to the coast, a few showers will be possible southeast of the I-95 corridor. Lows will remain in the upper 40s to mid 50s with plenty of clouds around regardless of if we have any showers in the area.
Widespread cloudiness will likely remain for a large part of the day Wednesday, keeping temperatures in the low 70s despite most locations remaining dry. As the system begins to pull away Wednesday night, clouds may be somewhat slow to depart, limiting cooling with lows in the low-mid 50s. Once this system departs the area, the region will remain embedded within weak flow aloft through at least the first part of the weekend, with surface high pressure in control.
Thursday through Saturday are expected to be dry across the area. As of right now, Thursday looks like the warmest day of the extended period with temperatures in the low 80s. A dry cold frontal passage will likely cool things down again as we head into the weekend, bringing pleasant conditions.
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.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas.
Thru 0Z...Intervals of sub-VFR expected as showers and storms develop, some of which could produce strong wind gusts. Outside of storms, winds generally southwesterly around 10 kts, with a few gusts up to 20 kts possible ahead of developing storms. Included VCTS with TEMPO TSRAs at all TAF sites for portions of the afternoon and evening. Convection gradually shifting east and getting to the I-95 corridor toward 21z if not sooner. Expecting scattered clusters of storms to get to the South Jersey terminals by 23z if not sooner. Brief restrictions down as low as IFR possible. Moderate confidence in timing and extent of restrictions.
Tonight...Some shower activity lingers through the first half of the night resulting in MVFR/IFR restrictions, primarily for the I-95 and South Jersey terminals. An improvement to VFR is possible late. Winds become northwesterly right around 00z, and stay around 5-10 kt through the night. Low confidence in timing, extent, and improvement of restrictions.
Sunday...Lingering sub-VFR conditions, mainly at KMIV/KACY, in stratus/SHRA. Improving conditions otherwise. Winds NW 5-10 kts. Moderate confidence.
Outlook...
Sunday night through Monday...VFR. No significant weather.
Monday night through Wednesday...Periods of sub-VFR conditions cannot be ruled out, primarily in low clouds. A few showers are also possible Tuesday night.
Thursday...VFR. No significant weather.
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.MARINE... A Small Craft Advisory is in effect for all ocean zones as southerly winds increase to 20 to 25 kt. Lower winds expected within Delaware Bay as gusts remain around 20 kt. Thunderstorms possible on the Delaware Bay after 3 PM and the ocean after 5 PM may result in some Special Marine Warnings being issued.
For tonight, winds diminish as a cold front comes through, bringing winds out of the northwest around 10-20 kt. Seas 2 to 4 feet. Scattered showers and thunderstorms expected on the water through most of the night.
On Sunday, sub-SCA conditions are expected on all waters.
Outlook...
Sub-SCA conditions anticipated through Monday night, with winds under 25 kt and seas under 5 feet. SCA conditions are possible Tuesday into Wednesday, with northeasterly winds to 25 kt and seas 5- 6 feet. Winds and seas should diminish by Thursday.
Rip Currents...
Today...South winds will increase to 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 25 mph by this afternoon. Easterly swells will be around 4 to 6 seconds with breaking waves of 2 to 3 feet for the Jersey Shore and around 1 ft at Delaware Beaches. With a slightly onshore component to the winds at the Jersey Shore, there is a MODERATE risk for the development of dangerous and life threatening rip currents at the Jersey Shore. With winds more shore parallel at Delaware Beaches, there is a LOW risk for the development of dangerous and life threatening rip currents at Delaware Beaches.
On Sunday, winds turn offshore behind a cold front. Breaking waves will be 1 to 2 feet with southeast swells 5 to 7 second period. As a result, there is a LOW risk for the development of dangerous and life threatening rip currents at the Jersey Shore and at Delaware Beaches.
For specific beach forecasts, visit weather.gov/beach/phi
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.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Some spotty minor tidal flooding is possible with the high tide cycles tonight within the upper Delaware Bay and tidal Delaware River. Coastal Flood Advisories are not expected, but some standing water may be seen in low lying areas within these communities near tidal areas.
No tidal flooding is expected along the Atlantic Ocean front.
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.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NJ...None. DE...None. MD...None. MARINE...Small Craft Advisory until 9 PM EDT this evening for ANZ450>455.
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SYNOPSIS...MPS/RCM NEAR TERM...RCM SHORT TERM...Cooper LONG TERM...Cooper AVIATION...Cooper/RCM MARINE...Cooper/RCM TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...PHI
NWS PHI Office Area Forecast Discussion