Staff
Philadelphia has had its fair share of thunderstorms as of late — “officially, lightning and thunder have been reported in the vicinity of Philadelphia International Airport on 21 of the last 42 days. The average for an entire year is 28”, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. Yet, following Saturday’s severe bout of storms, Philadelphians are now set to enjoy a respite from the extreme weather, with a brighter week ahead forecasted.
Recent rise in thunderstorm warnings
“We certainly have been in an active period,” said Sarah Johnson, the National Weather Service’s warning coordination meteorologist in Mount Holly. “We are way above normal.” Johnson also noted the National Weather Service — whose coverage area includes eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania, Delaware, and nearly all of New Jersey — has issued as many as 252 severe thunderstorm warnings so far in 2023 — the highest number since 2019. In contrast, there were zero warnings issued in May, which is a first since the forecast office transferred from Philadelphia to Mount Holly in 1994.
Severe weather: disruption and damage
Severe storms hit Philadelphia on Saturday, bringing with them strong winds and brief yet heavy downpours. Hundreds of flights from the Philadelphia International Airport were delayed and several canceled as a result. Specifically, by 9pm, 284 flights were delayed, and over 36 were canceled. The recent storms have also damaged homes, knocked down trees, and flooded streets across the region. Water damage restoration has therefore been a necessity for many homes and communities. The restoration process usually takes between three to ten days, depending on the extent of the damage — although most projects are usually completed within a few days.
A mostly dry and sunny week ahead
However, fortunately, Philadelphians can now enjoy a break from the ongoing extreme weather, starting with a cool, mostly sunny Sunday. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are all also due to be beautiful, sunny days with temperatures reaching the low 80s — at least 5-7 degrees cooler than the usual average for this time of year. Periodic showers are also expected on Monday and Thursday. Nights will also likely be cool enough to sleep comfortably without air conditioning.
“This was a game-changing front that will bring in cooler, drier air from the NW overnight, giving us lower dewpoints and more comfortable temperatures over the next few days”, CBS News explains. So, although the worst has passed for now, you may still want to keep your umbrella handy to shield yourself from sudden showers.