SHORT TERM FORECAST

TONIGHT: Increasing clouds; a bit of rain is possible very late, mostly south and west. Low: 52

SUNDAY: Rain developing by daybreak; moderate to heavy at times. Cooler and breezy. High: 63

SUNDAY NIGHT: Rain tapers back to scattered showers, but still some downpours or even thunder possible. Low: 58

 

FORECAST SUMMARY

Our weekend started off a bit chilly first thing Saturday morning with low temperatures well down into the 40s for most. Things warmed up nicely however by Saturday afternoon with many of us reaching the lower 70s for highs with sunshine mixed with high clouds and a light breeze. For the fifth straight week, Sunday will feature cloudy skies, rainfall, and just overall grey and gloomy conditions. The rain will be due to the remnants, or leftovers, of what was Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall near Destin, Florida Friday night as the first hurricane of the Atlantic season. The leftover moisture will arrive here on Sunday and continue into Sunday night, with generally 1″ to 1.5″ of total rainfall expected. While we will mostly dry out next week, a cold front could produce a few showers as it passes late Tuesday or Tuesday night, with another shot of some chilly and brisk air arriving for the latter part of next week. So, while highs will be around or above the 70° mark from Monday through Wednesday next week, much cooler highs back in the low to mid 60s return by the end of the week.

DETAILED FORECAST

REST OF THE WEEKEND

Clouds will continue to increase tonight, and there may be a bit of rain arriving well after midnight mainly for those south and west of the Lehigh Valley. For the bulk of us however, we can expect much of the night to be dry, just mostly cloudy, with low temperatures in the low 50s. For the 5th straight week, Sunday looks wet. This time, it’ll be from the remnants and leftover rain from former Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall near the western Florida panhandle Friday night. While we won’t get any strong wind gusts, expect a steady rain with pockets of moderate to heavy rain. So, expect rain to develop into daybreak Sunday with the steadiest rain in the afternoon and the first half of Sunday night, before the rain tapers to scattered showers overnight into early Monday. Sunday will also be a cooler day with highs in the low 60s, and rainfall amounts of around an 1″ to 1.5″ are generally expected, with locally higher amounts to 2″ not out of the question. While some isolated poor drainage flooding is possible, widespread flooding is not expected across the region at this time. We also do not anticipate any issues with severe thunderstorms or tornadoes but don’t be surprised if some lightning and thunder occurs Sunday afternoon and evening.

MONDAY

Clouds will linger to start Monday, and it could even be a touch humid (by October standards) as the remnant low that was once Isaias slides out to sea but leaves a hint of tropical air in place. While there could also be a shower or two in the morning, look for drying trends during the day and even some partial clearing trying to work in from the north and west by afternoon or evening. Highs will creep back up to the lower 70s by Monday afternoon, with more clearing taking place overnight. 

TUESDAY

We’ll wait for a cold front for Tuesday night that could produce a few showers, but will largely come through dry with just some extra clouds. Out ahead of that front on Tuesday, we’ll get an even warmer day compared to Monday, with highs perhaps into the mid 70s and sunshine mixing with increasing clouds. Enjoy the warmth while it lasts because some much cooler air follows later in the week into next weekend!

LATER NEXT WEEK

Initially it looked like some much cooler air would settle in for Wednesday in the wake of a cold front pushing in from the north Tuesday night. Latest data however suggests a delay in the arrival of the cooler air, and Wednesday now appears to be significantly warmer compared to earlier forecasts with highs topping out in at least the lower 70s (may even be warmer than that with time) under partly sunny skies. The cooler air is now expected to arrive on Thursday with highs dropping back into the mid 60s, but otherwise dry with a mix of sun and clouds. Temperatures should also top out in the mid 60s on Friday as another cold front arrives bringing increasing clouds, breezes, and a chance for some showers. We could then be talking about highs only in the 50s next weekend even with sunshine.

TRACK THE WEATHER:

LINKS:  HOUR BY  HOUR  |  RADAR | TRAFFIC