SHORT TERM FORECAST
TONIGHT: An early shower or thunderstorm, mainly north; otherwise, turning out mainly clear and rather mild. Low: 57
MONDAY: Mostly sunny and very warm. Challenging record high temperatures. High: 85
MONDAY NIGHT: Mostly clear to partly cloudy and mild. Low: 59
FORECAST SUMMARY
Talk about a tale of two seasons this weekend! From cloudy skies and temperatures mainly in the 50s Saturday to a return of plenty of sunshine and highs well into the 70s and even some 80 degree readings on Sunday, it was classic April weather for eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey. We'll need to watch closely some potential showers and thunderstorms dropping in from our north this evening, however many should remain dry. We're shaping up to be even warmer Monday as record highs could be challenged with temperatures soaring well into the 80s. Highs should remain near 80 degrees Tuesday with nighttime lows mostly in the 50s, easily the warmest weather we've seen so far this spring. A shower or thunderstorm will also be possible later Tuesday, possibly lingering into Wednesday morning, with the arrival of a cold front, and another cold front may bring a shower or storm chance Friday night into Saturday. Between that high pressure builds in briefly Thursday bringing mostly sunny skies. High temperatures for the middle to latter part of the week should be mainly be in the middle and upper 70s.
DETAILED FORECAST
TONIGHT
We're tracking a cold front slowly dropping south across Upstate New York this evening. This front has sparked scattered showers and thunderstorms across that region, but this activity is trying to move a little further south into at least the Poconos and northern New Jersey as we head into the evening. While no real organized severe weather is expected, an isolated cell with gusty winds and small hail cannot entirely be discounted. While many will likely remain dry, it's still possible a couple showers or a storm make it all the way down to the I-78 corridor. Any activity that is out there should fizzle by midnight or shortly there-past and we'll see some clearing sky then later at night with areas of patchy fog developing towards sunrise Monday. Low temperatures will be much milder compared to recent nights only dipping into the upper 50s.
MONDAY
Expect a summery day to start the week! It'll be mostly sunny and mainly dry with a west to southwesterly wind flow helping to boost afternoon high temperatures into the mid and upper 80s. The record high for Allentown is 86 degrees set back in 1974 and we may come very close to that. Reading's record high is 91 degrees so we probably fall a little shy of that, but it will still be warm enough. And of course, you can also forget about those frosty nights for a bit, as much milder lows will stay up in the 50s. Monday will likely be the warmest day of the spring so far! That front we mentioned dropping south across Upstate New York back on Sunday evening looks to still linger close by as a backdoor cold front for Monday. While most should stay dry Monday and Monday evening/night, it's possible that backdoor front does spark an isolated shower or thunderstorm later Monday afternoon into Monday evening. Similar to late Sunday, any activity that does fire is likely from I-78 and points north.
TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY
An approaching cold front will lead to an increase in clouds and some late day showers and thunderstorms Tuesday. Overall though, it looks like another partly sunny and continued very warm day, although maybe just a smidge cooler compared to Monday with highs around 80 degrees. Don't be surprised if you notice the humidity a bit more though as the aforementioned cold front approaches later in the day. That uptick in humidity may help spark a gusty shower/storm into Tuesday night, but no widespread severe weather is currently expected. In the wake of Tuesday's cold front, temperatures don't drop much for Wednesday with highs still expected to reach the mid to upper 70s. Some showers may linger into Wednesday morning before skies clear later in the day. Wednesday should turn out rather pleasant with highs reaching the mid to upper 70s.
THURSDAY
Temperatures will stay above normal Thursday again as highs are still expected to top out in the middle and upper 70s. High pressure looks to be in control briefly leading to mostly sunny skies and comfortable humidity values. Skies stay mostly clear to partly cloudy overnight as temperatures stay mild in the 50s.
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
Another cold front will approach from our west Friday into Saturday and pass offshore by Saturday night. Forecast models will iron out the timing in the days ahead but as of now we expect much of the daytime Friday to be dry and pleasant with a mix of clouds and sun and high temperatures in the upper 70s. The shower or thunderstorm chance increases Friday night, and then some showers linger into Saturday with mostly cloudy skies and high temperatures reaching the mid 70s.
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