PHILLY WEEKEND WEATHER OUTLOOK

[su_note note_color=”#d9f2da”]Fri Noon Update: Large differences between the NAM and GFS models.  The NAM has much of Saturday dry, the GFS has much of Sunday dry with the NAM having heavy rain on Sunday.  I’ll try to nail it down with a Friday evening update. [/su_note]

A quasi-stationary  frontal boundary will gradually pass through our area over the upcoming weekend and become quasi-stationary.

There’s much uncertainty about the timing and speed of this front as well as the final position of the front.  Impulses of low pressure are expected to develop along this boundary and bring showers as well as pulling the front alternately north and south.

As a result, the forecast for this weekend is very low confidence, but here’s the general trend-  Saturday will be the most unsettled with the highest chance of precipitation;  showers and thunderstorms are possible, especially in the afternoon, but possibly throughout the day as low pressure develops right over Philadelphia.   These will continue into the evening.

Low pressure exits on Sunday, giving a break in the showers early, with showers possibly developing again in the evening.   Sunday looks like the better day for outdoor activities.

The experimental EKDMOS captures the uncertainty- the spread on the high possible temperatures for Sunday 5/13 is incredibly large.

High Temperatures for Saturday and Sunday EKDMOS

PHILLY FORECAST UPDATE

Broad Street Run Forecast Update-  We had a little more sunshine than predicted this morning.  I’m always glad to be wrong about this. Cloudiness did move in during the afternoon.

Some showers will be moving in Saturday evening.

For tomorrow, Sunday, the models continue with a break in precipitation during the morning hours for the Broad Street Run. Minimal precipitation expected in the morning hours (QPF< 0.01 inches water)  but rain returns after 2 PM.

It will be cloudy, cool with high temperatures in the mid 60s and a breezy north to northeasterly wind.

Break in PHL rainfall Sunday morning
Experimental GFS model-  Accumulated precipitation during the morning hours 8AM to 2PM Sunday. Most models keep the immediate PHL fairly dry in the morning hours.

While the operational models (NAM GFS)  maintain dry conditions in the morning, the statistical models maintain a chance of light precipitation during the morning. (12Z-18Z)

Ensemble Kernal Density Model Output Statistics (Experimental)