066 FXUS61 KPHI 101949 AFDPHIArea Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Mount Holly NJ 349 PM EDT Fri Oct 10 2025
.SYNOPSIS... High pressure will continue to move further offshore through Saturday. A coastal storm with significant impacts is expected to affect the region by Sunday and into early next week. Improving conditions expected by Tuesday as the storm weakens and moves out to sea. High pressure will begin building back into the region during the middle to end of next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... It`ll likely be the best weather (evening/overnight period), of the next several, as high pressure remains mostly in charge tonight. We are on the south/southwest side of the high, so onshore flow has commenced and low level moisture will only continue to increase from here. Clouds have already arrived for Delmarva and much of NJ attm and these clouds will remain overnight. The clouds will struggle to move too far N/W as dry air remains. No rains are expected most spots tonight. A few models are trying to bring some rains late near then shore areas, so we`ll go along with some slight chance pops late tonight. Lows will be milder than the previous night with mid/upper 40s N/W and low/mid 50s S/E.
The high will be well offshore Saturday. The strengthening onshore flow will bring increasing clouds to all areas thru the day. Again, like Friday night, a few models are bringing light rains to many areas during the day while other are dry. We`ll compromise with only chance pops for Sat across the region. In addition, slowly increasing winds will keep temps mostly in the 60s. Winds will start the day 5 to 10 mph then become mostly 10 to 15 mph late. Gusts will be 20 mph at times but 20 to 30 mph by late afternoon for the shore areas.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... Things really start to go downhill on Saturday night as a coastal low approaches from the south. Rain is expected to continue overspreading the area, with around a 70-90% chance of rain region-wide. Winds begin to increase, especially over the water and along the immediate coastline with gusts getting near 40-50 mph by daybreak.
***Significant impacts possible from a strong coastal storm Sunday through Monday***
Overview: We continue to closely monitor the anticipated development of a potentially significant coastal storm near the North Carolina coast along a stalled frontal boundary beginning Saturday. This storm is anticipated to strengthen and lift northward Sunday into early next week. The primary impacts will be from coastal flooding, beach erosion, dune breaching, strong to potentially damaging winds, and heavy rain. The heaviest rainfall and strongest winds are still anticipated to be near the Atlantic coast.
What has changed: There have been no significant changes to the forecast or messaging for the storm with this update. There still remains a fair amount of certainty regarding the details of the evolution of the coastal storm and its ultimate degree of impacts. There are still 2 potential solutions, which are most evident in the differences between the 12Z GFS and NAM model runs. A stronger storm that tracks closer to the coast will result in much more severe impacts (similar to the 12Z NAM solution). A somewhat weaker storm that tracks farther offshore, (like in the latest GFS runs, as well as previous runs of other global guidance) will result in less severe, but still potentially significant impacts to the immediate coast. Guidance will likely continue to struggle and vary from run to run with this system until it actually forms a well defined low pressure center sometime Saturday or Saturday night. All previously issued watches remain in effect at this time due to the continued uncertainty in timing, severity, and inland extent of impacts.
Coastal Storm Forecast Details...
The period Sunday through Monday will be when our area likely experiences the brunt of the impacts from the coastal storm. If the current track holds and the coastal storm does end up just offshore or even making landfall over Delmarva, strong winds are expected, sustained near 30-40 mph (perhaps near 50 mph along the immediate coast) with gusts possibly near 60-70 mph along the coast by Sunday afternoon, Sunday night, and early Monday. There is potential for these strong winds to continue well into Monday. Gusts upward of 30-50 mph may extend inland to about the I-95 corridor and Philadelphia metro area. While there is still some uncertainty in how long strong winds last, there is at least high enough confidence that counties bordering the Atlantic Ocean will either see sustained winds or frequent wind gusts at/above criteria for a High Wind Warning. As a result, the High Wind Watch remains in effect for Atlantic coastal NJ and DE, and their respective counties as periods of 40+ mph sustained winds and/or frequent gusts near 60 mph are increasingly likely. Would not be surprised to see a Wind Advisory for more inland counties, but will wait to issue anything until confidence on inland extent of the winds is higher. Long story short, power outages and tree damage are possible, especially toward the coast.
In addition to the wind, heavy rain is forecast, and a SLIGHT (2/4) Risk Excessive Rainfall Outlook is in place for the I-95 corridor and points south and east for Sunday through Sunday night. A widespread 1-3 inches of rain is forecast across our entire area, with locally higher amounts of 3-5 inches possible, especially within the SLGT risk area near the coast. While that sounds like a lot, it is important to keep in mind that this will be falling over a 36 to 48 hour period. It has been quite dry as well. Given this, the thinking is that flooding due to heavy rain alone will be limited to poor drainage and urban areas. However, that much rainfall could exacerbate impacts near the coast with Moderate and potentially Major coastal flooding ongoing. Significant high tides are expected due to strong northeast winds resulting in water piling up along the coast.
The setup is overall very complex. The surface low will be developing over the Gulf Stream along a stalled boundary, and its northward movement will depend on how it interacts with a surface high over Nova Scotia, an upper level low over the Great Lakes, and even distant Tropical Storm Jerry. The extent and severity of impacts in our area will be directly related to the exact track and evolution of the low pressure center. Stay tuned to the latest briefing packages and forecast updates as the forecast continues to evolve and details become more apparent over the next 24-48 hours.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... The early week coastal storm will be weakening significantly by Tuesday, but it`s remnant low could still linger in the vicinity of the coast yielding a chance of showers and somewhat breezy conditions. The low will eventually weaken and push out to sea Tuesday into Tuesday night. Thereafter, broad and relatively weak high pressure will build across the Great Lakes region. Its cooler airmass will arrive toward the end of the week, with below normal temperatures and fair weather anticipated for Thursday and Friday.
&&
.AVIATION /19Z FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... The following discussion is for KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY and surrounding areas.
thru Sunset... VFR continues with FEW/SCT for the N/W areas and BKN/OVC for the S/E areas. Bases mostly 040-050 attm. Winds are mostly E/SE around 10 knots at most. These conditions will continue with some of the cloudiness spreading NW. High confid.
Tonight... VFR much of the night with an increase in clouds. There could be some high-end MVFR CIGs arriving towards dawn for the Delaware Valley and south NJ sites. Light rains may affect coastal areas, but confid in this not high attm. Light E/SE winds. Medium/high confid.
Saturday... Differing guidance with MET/NAM showing rains and MVFR CIGS for many sites during the morning with some improvement after. GFS remains with a VFR fcst thru the day. We mostly blended the guidance offering some MVFR CIGS but only mentioned rains where it seems most probable (KMIV/KACY). East winds 5 to 10 knots.
Outlook...
Saturday Night...MVFR/VFR conditions with light to moderate rain and lower clouds overspreading the area. Highest chance for restrictions at the South Jersey terminals. Northeast wind gusts 25-30 kt at KACY, 20-25 kt at the I-95 terminals and KMIV, and 15-20 kt at the Lehigh Valley Terminals.
Sunday through Monday...MVFR to IFR conditions expected with moderate to heavy rain moving through and gusty winds. Northeast wind gusts up to 50 kt possible at KACY. Gusts out of the northeast around 25-35 kt expected at the I-95 terminals and KMIV, with 20-30 kt anticipated within the Lehigh Valley.
Monday Night...Restrictions expected with showers and low clouds. Wind gusts diminish to around 15-25 kt out of the north/northeast.
Tuesday...Conditons improve but sub-VFR conditions possible. Wind gusts could get near 20 kt at times.
Wednesday..VFR with no significant weather.
&&
.MARINE... Fair weather with sub-SCA for the rest of today and into tonight. No changes to the near term marine flags Saturday with the SCA flag expected to go up during the morning for much of the NJ shore as winds and seas will be increasing thru Sat. There is a small chance for rains for the marine zones early but no tstms are expected. Rain chances increase thru the afternoon.
Outlook...
Saturday Night through Monday...A Storm Watch remains in place through Monday for all marine zones except the upper Delaware Bay. Northeast winds 35-45 kt and gusts up to 50-55 kt expected within the Atlantic coastal waters and mouth of Delaware Bay. Gale Watch in effect for the upper Bay as winds should be lighter. Dangerous seas upward of 15 to 20 feet expected. Periods of moderate to heavy rain and sea spray restricting visibility at times.
Monday night through Wednesday...Conditions will begin to improve as the storm weakens and begins to move away. However, gale force winds may linger through Tuesday and elevated seas above 5 feet may linger through Wednesday.
&&
.TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... Minor coastal flooding is forecast with Saturday morning`s high tide, mainly for Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties in NJ and Sussex and Kent Counties in DE. As a result, the Coastal Flood Advisory now continues through midday Saturday for the aforementioned areas.
There is an increasing risk of moderate to major coastal flooding impacts beginning Sunday through Monday as a strong coastal storm impacts the region. Guidance varies in potential outcomes of this storm with regard to severity of coastal flood impacts locally, however we remain very concerned about the potential for significant impacts from this storm along our coasts. At this time, the greatest threat of impacts are anticipated to occur along the Atlantic coasts of New Jersey and Delaware, and Delaware Bay. A Coastal Flood Watch remains in effect to highlight this threat for the high tides Sunday through Monday.
Significant beach erosion and dune breaching are possible along the entire New Jersey Shore and Delaware beaches due to the very high surf conditions that are expected. Interests along the Atlantic coast, Delaware Bay, back bays, and tidal waterways should remain alert for forecast updates regarding this potentially significant coastal flood event.
&&
.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...None. NJ...Coastal Flood Watch from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening for NJZ016. Coastal Flood Advisory until 4 PM EDT Saturday for NJZ021>025. Coastal Flood Watch from Sunday morning through Monday evening for NJZ012>014-020>027. High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through late Sunday night for NJZ013-014-020-022>027. DE...Coastal Flood Watch from Sunday afternoon through Monday evening for DEZ001. Coastal Flood Advisory until 4 PM EDT Saturday for DEZ002>004. Coastal Flood Watch from Sunday morning through Monday evening for DEZ002>004. High Wind Watch from Sunday morning through late Sunday night for DEZ003-004. MD...None. MARINE...Gale Watch from Saturday evening through Monday evening for ANZ430. Storm Watch from Saturday evening through Monday evening for ANZ431-450>455. Small Craft Advisory from 10 AM to 6 PM EDT Saturday for ANZ451>455.
&&
$$
SYNOPSIS...OHara/Staarmann NEAR TERM...OHara SHORT TERM...AKL/Hoeflich/Staarmann LONG TERM...AKL/Staarmann AVIATION...AKL/OHara MARINE...AKL/OHara TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...Staarmann/AKL
NWS PHI Office Area Forecast Discussion