7:00 AM | Record warmth today and likely again on Sunday in much of the East...much colder Monday night and Tuesday with a wintry threat

6-Day Philly Forecast

Today

Record warmth today with mostly cloudy skies, an occasional shower is likely and there can be a thunderstorm, windy, highs in the low-to-mid 70’s

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, mild, chance for lingering showers, maybe a thunderstorm, lows in the mid 50’s

Friday

Increasing clouds, still well above normal for this time of year, rain possible by later in the afternoon, mid 60’s

Friday Night

Mostly cloudy with periods of rain, maybe a thudnerstorm, mild, mid 40’s

Saturday

Mainly cloudy, cooler, chance of showers, mid 50’s

Sunday

Mainly cloudy, quite warm and perhaps another record breaker, chance of showers, mid-to-upper 60’s

Monday

Mainly cloudy, much colder, periods of rain possible at night, but it could actually be cold enough for some sleet and/or snow, low-to-mid 40’s

Tuesday

Mainly cloudy, chilly, chance for rain or sleet, low 50’s

Discussion

The record high for today in Philly is 64 degrees - actually set just one year ago – and it is certainly in jeopardy. In fact, Philadelphia's all-time December record high of 73°F - set on two days in 1998 during the last strong El Nino event – is also in jeopardy today. A cool front will slide through by tomorrow bringing slightly cooler air into the area, but it’ll stay well above normal for this time of year. It also stays quite unsettled as more rain should return to the area by tomorrow night and the rain threat will continue on each weekend day. By Sunday, another significant warm surge will take place in the eastern US and more records could fall. Talk about a nation divided; however, at the same time the eastern states are warm, the western half of the country will be in the deep freeze. Some of that colder air will push across the Great Lakes region and into New York and New England early next week and snow and ice could actually break out in those areas by Monday night or Tuesday. In fact, the snow and sleet threat could actually extend as far south as Pennsylvania by late Monday night as cold high pressure builds to the north. One final note, the moon will be full on Christmas Day which is actually quite a rare event. The last time the full moon fell on December 25th was 1977, and it won't happen again until 2034.