Cooler temps expected in Philadelphia area Monday, plus how Erin will affect Jersey, Delaware shores
Much cooler air arrives in the Philadelphia area on Monday, and we begin the week with highs only in the mid-70s.
It will be cloudy with scattered showers on Monday and Tuesday. A cool breeze, especially on Monday, will make it feel more like May than August.
By Wednesday, some sun returns with isolated thunderstorms and highs near 80.
We'll start to brighten up and warm up by the end of the week, into the weekend, as Erin moves away.
Tracking Hurricane Erin
Erin is a Category 4 hurricane, and while it has wobbled a bit in the past eight hours or so, the forecast track stays the same. Erin will likely weaken back to Category 3 later Monday night or Tuesday and maintain major (3+) strength through early Thursday morning before speeding up and weakening back to a Category 2 as it makes its closest pass by our coastline.
The good news about Erin is that it's not expected to make any sort of landfall, and the track will split the difference between the U.S. and Bermuda. However, we will still experience significant coastal impacts from the storm.
How Erin will affect the Jersey Shore, Delaware beaches
A high rip current risk starts Monday and will continue through at least Friday. Beachgoers should also expect long-period swells that will generate rough surf and large breaking waves – 8-12 foot seas on Wednesday and could build as high as 10-15 feet on Thursday.
It's safe to say there will be dangerous swimming and boating conditions all week.
Due to dangerous surf conditions from Hurricane Erin, swimming is currently prohibited on all Wildwood beaches. The Wildwood Beach Patrol is asking beachgoers to stay on the sand until the storm passes later this week.
Beach erosion and coastal flooding are likely; there's already a coastal flood advisory for the Jersey Shore and Delaware on Monday.
Away from the coast, impacts from Erin will be limited.
Here's your 7-day forecast:
Monday: Scattered showers. High 74, Low 71
Tuesday: A stray shower? High 77, Low 66
Wednesday: Late showers? High 80, Low 67
Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 81, Low 68
Friday: Mostly sunny. High 84, Low 65
Saturday: Partly sunny. High 84, Low 65
Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 83, Low 69