Nature unleashes its own fireworks

This hazy, hot, and humid weather pattern is going to go out with a bang over the next 24 hours with very heavy rainfall, severe thunderstorms, and even some minor influences from Tropical Storm Arthur to contend with.

A powerful cold front and upper level disturbance will march towards the Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan areas today through tomorrow morning with wide spread showers and strong to severe thunderstorms.  These severe thunderstorms will be capable of wind gusts over 50 mph, frequent lightning, very heavy downpours, and hail.  An isolated tornado is possible but unlikely.  Flash flooding and poor visibility will be significant impacts throughout the region.  Winds will be from the southwest at 10 to 20 mph.  High temperatures will rise into the upper 80's to lower 90's with a heat index in the upper 90's to lower 100's.

Tonight into tomorrow morning, periods of rain with embedded thunderstorms will linger into the mid to late morning hours.  As the cold front pushes off the coast, winds will back to the northwest at 10 to 20 mph with gusts over 30 mph.  Temperatures will fall into the lower to mid 70's for lows.

By tomorrow afternoon, the cold front will be off the coast and dry air will be building into the Philadelphia and New York City metropolitan areas.  Skies will clear from west to east with winds from the northwest at 10 to 20 mph gusting over 30 mph at times.  Temperatures will rise into the mid to upper 80's for highs in the afternoon with dew points crashing into the 50's leading to low humidity.

High pressure will be in control Friday night on through Wednesday with clear skies to scattered cloud cover.  For this weekend, low temperatures will be in the lower to mid 60's and highs temperatures in the mid 80's.  For next week, temperatures will range from the mid to upper 60's for lows and mid to upper 80's for highs.