PA Memorial Day Weekend Forecast: Not Looking Good

The unofficial start of summer comes on Memorial Day weekend. But it's not going to be a good time to drive. And it's going to be a terrible weekend for the beach.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain could dampen the weekend as tens of thousands of Pennsylvanians are supposed to take to the roads and head to their favorite vacations spots, forecasters say.

Indeed, an AccuWeather news release says damp and dreary conditions will plague New Jersey and Pennsylvania over the next few days, with enough wet weather possible to disrupt travel and outdoor activities.

It will be warm, however, as temperatures are supposed to reach the high 70s on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. The best day is expected to be Saturday, when it will be partly cloudy, according to the National Weather Service.

But thunderstorms are expected to return on Sunday afternoon and last into the evening, with winds picking up faster than 10 mph, said Mitchell Gaines, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

Making matters worse, going to the beach probably won't be too much fun, and it may be too cold to even stick your toe in the water. Ocean temperatures oare expected to be cooler than normal - right now, they're in the 60-degree range, and they won't get warmer by the weekend, Gaines aid.

"It's not a beach weekend," he said.

AccuWeather agrees, saying the wet weather is expected to exit in time for Saturday sporting events, beach trips, yard work and hikes.

The next storm coming from the Ohio Valley, however, will be knocking on the door of New Jersey and Pennsylvania with the likelihood of a return of wet weather on Sunday and into Monday, according to AccuWeather.

Any storms that spark have the potential to be severe, bringing torrential rainfall, dangerous lightning and damaging winds and hail to areas in the line of fire, according to AccuWeather.

"The forward speed of the next storm will determine if Memorial Day ceremonies and barbecues are inconvenienced by a passing thundershower or washed out by periods of rain," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said.

Here is the forecast:

• Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3pm. High near 73. East wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Thurdday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 10pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 57. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Friday: A chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. West wind 11 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
• Friday night: A chance of showers before 8pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 76. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the morning.
• Saturday night: A slight chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
• Sunday: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 74. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Sunday night: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 8pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 8pm and midnight, then a chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
• Memorial Day: A chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Patch file photo