Philadelphia Area Weather Forecasts

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

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Fri 4:42 PM —Forecast Review — We had quite a bit of rain last night and this morning. Here’s the final MRMS totals—
MRMS rain-gauge measured rainfall combined with rain-gauge calibrated and interpolated radar-based summary of ACTUAL RAINFALL RECEIVED. Color shading is in inches. Line contour numbers are in mm. (25.4 mm= 1 inch)      (Click on image for a larger view.)

Friday Forecast Update

Posted Friday 12/19/25 @ 7:24 AM — The rain has reached or is approaching its peak precipitation rate. The cold front is just west of Harrisburg and another line of rain and higher winds will move through about 10 -11 AM.

Water Vapor image at 7:15 AM with superimposed RAP model pressure (black). thickness (yellow) and potential vorticity contours (violet) (Click on image for a larger view.)

Rain tapers off around noontime, but widely scattered light instability showers may continue for a time during the afternoon. Temperatures near 60º this morning will drop to freezing by about 6 PM.

The cold air moving in will not be anywhere as cold as the last major front and temperatures aloft rise on Saturday before another cold front moves through.

My regular feature, the “Weekend Weather Forecast“, will be posted later this afternoon.

Thursday Friday Update

Updated Thursday 12/18/25 @ 8:33 AM — Following a warm-up late Thursday into early Friday, a strong cold front moving through will cause heavy rainfall and windy conditions for Friday. The actual front moves through late morning and temperatures will begin dropping from late morning through the rest of the afternoon. Wind gusts will exceed 40 mph.

NBM total rainfall (Click on image for larger view.)

Total rainfall will be 1.0” to 1.5”

A Warmup on Friday

Updated Tuesday 12/16/25 @ 4:20 PM — Despite the severe cold we’re experiencing right now, a warmup to above average temperatures is expected by late Thursday into Friday before a cold front moves through on Friday. Highs may approach 60°. This front will be accompanied by some moderate rainfall. Temperatures fall again for the weekend.

AIGFS forecast temperatures early Friday morning. (Click on image for larger view.)

No snow is currently seen for Christmas. Above average temperatures are possible for the last week in December.

Previously Posted Sun 9:59 PM —The cold front that moved through Sunday morning has brought very cold weather to our area for mid December that will last into Monday and Tuesday, with moderating temperatures for Wednesday.

Another weak front moves through Wednesday, but this will not be an arctic front. Another strong cold front moves through Friday, likely with rain, that may possibly change to snow before ending.

GFS forecast for Friday (Click on image for larger view.)

Just because the beginning of this winter season has started so cold here in the northeastern US does not mean that the entire winter season will be so cold. These persistent dips in the jet stream over our area have a tendency to change their position over the continental US and some very warm temperatures will likely surface, if not in December, in January.