Weather
Mid-Atlantic Weather Oct. 16-18: Storms Before Cold Weekend Pennsylvania-New Jersey
Philadelphia, PA – Residents across southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are facing a major weather change October 16 18, as a strong cold front threatens widespread rain and thunderstor
By Claire Benton · 2026-10-14T00:23:22.596Z
Philadelphia, PA – Residents across southeastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are facing a major weather change October 16 18, as a strong cold front threatens widespread rain and thunderstorms Friday before sending temperatures plunging into the 30s and 40s over the weekend.
According to the National Weather Service in Philadelphia/Mount Holly, temperatures will remain near or above normal through Friday before a powerful cold front moves through the region Friday night, bringing a noticeably colder and breezier weekend.
Friday Rain Chances Reach 90%
Forecasters expect a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms Wednesday, October 14, before more widespread precipitation develops Thursday night into Friday.
Friday's precipitation probabilities include:
Allentown, PA: 90% Mount Pocono, PA: 90% Reading, PA: 85% Trenton, NJ: 85% Philadelphia, PA: 80% Wilmington, DE: 80% Atlantic City, NJ: 75% Some thunderstorms are possible ahead of the approaching front.
Temperatures Drop Sharply by Saturday
Philadelphia is forecast to reach 77 degrees Friday before falling to a high of 56 Saturday, a 21 degree drop.
Allentown could fall from 72 Friday to 51 Saturday, while Trenton drops from 75 to 53.
Dover, Delaware, could experience an even larger change, falling from 80 degrees Friday to just 55 Saturday.
Sunday Morning Brings Chilly Lows
Overnight temperatures could fall into the 30s across several inland communities.
Mount Pocono is forecast to reach 30 degrees Sunday morning, with Hackettstown near 32, Allentown near 34 and Reading near 35.
Philadelphia could fall to 39 degrees, while Atlantic City reaches approximately 44.
The National Weather Service expects dry but breezy conditions following the front, with temperatures remaining unusually cold through the weekend.
Residents should prepare for changing travel conditions Friday and considerably colder temperatures by Saturday morning.