Philadelphia, Pa. – Residents across eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware woke up shivering Friday morning as temperatures dropped 10 to 15 degrees below normal, marking one of the coldest late-August mornings in decades. Allentown bottomed out at 45 degrees, while Philadelphia dipped to 49, and Wilmington and Trenton both hit 50.
According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, these readings were the lowest observed in late August since at least 2000, with some locations matching or nearing all-time records. The Mount Holly office itself recorded 48 degrees, its coldest August temperature since records began in 1994.
The unusual chill was most noticeable inland, where readings in the mid-40s made it feel more like mid-October than the end of August. Atlantic City reported 51 degrees at the airport, while Mount Pocono dropped to 51 in the higher elevations.
Drivers heading out early were urged to be cautious of patchy fog developing in low-lying areas, while residents were reminded that sudden shifts in temperature can strain heating systems for those already switching on furnaces.
The cool spell is expected to linger into the weekend before gradually warming by early next week, though overnight lows will remain below seasonal averages. More updates are expected if another round of unseasonable cold develops.
