Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued In Eastern PA This Weekend

Did you enjoy that warm, nicer-than-ever fall weather? Well, time's up.

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Eastern Pennsylvania, as the region braces for its worst weather in a while.

The Hazardous Weather Outlook, which calls for winds and rain, covers all eastern Pennsylvania east of Lancaster County and south of Scranton and Lackawanna County, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties.

According to forecasters, gusty winds are expected to develop Saturday morning, reaching 45 mph. The winds will diminish later Saturday, according to the National Weather Service. Also, rain is expected for Friday night and early Saturday.

Sudden downpours can cause brief travel disruptions around major cities from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia, New York City and Boston into Saturday, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said in a release.

For Pennsylvania, however, wind will be the main threat. A few thunderstorms can also bring wind gusts strong enough to knock down tree limbs and send loose items flying, according to AccuWeather.

Here is the forecast:

Friday afternoon: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 75. South wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Friday night: Showers likely, mainly after 2am. Areas of fog. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 53. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday: A chance of showers, mainly before 8am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Windy, with a west wind 17 to 22 mph increasing to 25 to 30 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Saturday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 44. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 22 mph.

Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a west wind 17 to 21 mph.

Patch file photo