Severe Thunderstorms In PA Forecast Friday Could Break Heat Streak

PENNSYLVANIA - Keystone State residents may get a break from this week’s hot and humid temperatures with thunderstorms in the forecast Friday.

Scattered severe storms capable of producing frequent cloud-to-ground lightning and damaging wind gusts up to 60 mph are in the cards for much of the state starting at around 2 p.m., the National Weather Service said.

The eastern half of the state is poised to see the greatest effects with “scattered severe storms possible;" virtually no severe storms are expected west of I-99, the weather service said.

Hot & humid again today. There is another risk for some severe t-storms this afternoon/evening. An isolated shower/t-storm this AM, then additional storms develop this PM with locally damaging winds/hail possible. Forecast updates: https://t.co/ka2HFv1KuB #pawx #njwx #dewx #mdwx pic.twitter.com/RCfoPTBpyz
— NWS Mount Holly (@NWS_MountHolly) September 8, 2023

Damaging wind gusts and large hail are possible in a few locations late this afternoon and evening. The area of greatest risk is along and southeast of I-81. Heavy downpours could accompany the stronger storms, possibly resulting in minor flooding in a few spots. pic.twitter.com/9KoxVAtUFv
— NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) September 8, 2023

The silver lining? Temperatures at 88 degrees Friday are set to drop to 69 degrees Friday night and remain below 90 degrees, breaking the streak of blistering heat this week with weekend temperatures in the low- to mid-80s, per the weather service.

A hazardous weather outlook is in effect for the following counties through Friday night due to forecast scattered thunderstorm activity:

• Lehigh
• Berks
• Monroe
• Carbon
• Northampton
• Delaware
• Philadelphia
• Chester
• Montgomery
• Bucks
• Centre
• Blair
• Huntingdon
• Mifflin
• Juniata
• Bedford
• Fulton
• Franklin
• Sullivan
• Clinton
• Lycoming
• Union
• Snyder
• Montour
• Northumberland
• Columbia
• Perry
• Dauphin
• Schuylkill
• Lebanon
• Cumberland
• Adams
• York
• Lancaster
• Bradford
• Susquehanna
• Wayne
• Wyoming
• Lackawanna
• Luzerne
• Pike

"Severe thunderstorms with damaging winds 60 mph or greater and large hail exceeding 1 inch in diameter are possible in a few spots late this afternoon or evening," the weather service said. "The best chance of severe weather will be across the southeast corner of Pennsylvania."

Additional rounds of showers are in the temperate weekend forecast, with a chance of thunderstorms every day through Wednesday.

Here’s the latest statewide forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Friday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 11 p.m. and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2 and 5 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 2 and 5 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.