First Alert: Dangerous Heat and Severe Storms This Weekend in Philadelphia Region

The NBC10 Weather Team called a First Alert for the combination of dangerous heat and strong to severe storms forecast to pass the area Saturday night.

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The temperatures will yet again soar to the low to mid 90s in the afternoon, with a mix of clouds and sunshine overhead. While the actual temperatures will be in the 90s, the feels-like conditions will be around 100 degrees. Areas south of the I-95 Corridor could even feel a little higher than 100.
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What has become the longest heat wave of the Summer, so far, will finally break this evening. A frontal boundary will interact with a passing storm system. The combination of high heat and humidity, with the lift from the front will fire off a line of strong to severe thunderstorms. On this computer model, called the High Resolution Rapid Refresh, you can see the storms approach the area from the west around 4-5 p.m.
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The severe weather may make it to Philadelphia by 6-7 p.m.
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The most dangerous storms may linger until about midnight, specifically near South Jersey and the shore, as the line tries to exit out to sea.
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Damaging winds, flash flooding, and lightning are the biggest threats to the area.
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Notice the Storm Prediction Center, a government agency that forecasts the regions with the highest threat for severe weather, places most of our neighborhoods under a slight risk. While that may sound mild, it’s actually about halfway along the “danger” scale. Remember, this scale is specifically built regarding the risk for SEVERE weather—not the more mild, run-of-the-mill thunderstorms we sometimes see.
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So what does “slight” mean? Scattered, but not widespread storms may pass the area tonight. While damaging winds or small hail are more likely, an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out.
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The strongest storms should die down between 10pm and midnight. But that’s not the end of the stormy weather. Another round of strong to severe storms will fire off with a cold front passage Sunday night into Monday morning. Notice this computer model shows a few storms popping up around 7pm Sunday night.
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The models consistently show the worst weather well into the overnight hours. Around midnight, this future radar model still indicates pockets of downpours. There is good news. The stormy weather weakens to just scattered showers Monday, and by Tuesday low 80s, low humidity, and mostly sunny conditions return to the area.
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