90-Plus Degree Heat, Storms Hitting Southeastern PA This Week

PENNSYLVANIA — Temperatures are pushing 90-plus degrees in Eastern Pennsylvania Tuesday, and severe weather in on the way later this week, according to forecasters.

Tuesday is expected to see sunny skies and near record-setting highs up to 95 degrees, according to AccuWeather. Record highs for May 31 are generally around the low- to mid-90s, the agency noted.

But don’t expect the heat to linger for long, as cooler temperatures, afternoon thunderstorms and heavy rain are set to be ushered into Pennsylvania on Wednesday.

“This last day of May features very warm to hot conditions, however heat indices will not be too far from the actual air temps,” the National Weather Service tweeted Tuesday morning. “A backdoor cold front, from the northeast, arrives tonight and lingers Wednesday, bringing cooling to at least parts of the region.”

Some lucky locations along the coast, like Atlantic City and Cape May, shouldn’t see temperatures above the mid-80s. Temperatures Tuesday night are forecast to be mainly in the 60s and lower 70s.

Thursday also holds a chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly in the afternoon and evening, per the National Weather Service.

“There is some risk for strong to severe thunderstorms Thursday afternoon and evening with locally damaging wind gusts the main threat,” National Weather Service forecasters said in a discussion Tuesday morning.

While Friday may see a rainy, gloomy morning, the skies should clear by midday with highs near 80.

Here’s the latest forecast:

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 95. Northwest wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. West wind around 5 mph becoming north after midnight.

Wednesday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 80. East wind 5 to 10 mph. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming west after midnight. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m., then a chance of showers after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: A chance of showers before 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 79.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.