It's A Gray Monday In Philadelphia

By Geoff Bansen

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- No sun for today!

You can leave the glasses and hats at home, there won't be a glare to be found as the Delaware Valley begins the work week socked in by clouds. Some people may even see a sprinkle during the day - it won't be umbrella worthy, so you can leave that home, too!

Highs will be limited as a result; they're only expected to reach the mid 60s. That is going to change in a big way over the next few days.

A warm front lifting north will lead to a few overnight sprinkles. Tuesday morning clouds will eventually give way to some sun by the afternoon. That front lifting north is going to usher in some well above average temperatures, approaching 80 in some spots! Wednesday will be similar.

These warm temperatures are all ahead of a potent -- but slow moving -- cold front that will be making its way east ever so slowly. The timing as of now should bring it through at some point on Thursday morning, bringing rain and even a few rumbles of thunder. Its passage will break those temperatures and also clear us out just in time for the weekend, which will be pleasant but back to much more fall-like conditions.

Today's Highs:

Philly - 66
Shore - 68
Poconos – 58

On this day in weather history...

1846 - A great hurricane tracked across Cuba, FL, GA, the Carolinas, VA and PA. The hurricane inflicted major damage along its entire path, which was similar to the path of Hurricane Hazel 108 years later. The hurricane caused great damage at Key West FL, and at PHL, it was the most destructive storm in 30 years. SE winds backed up the waters of the Delaware River to flood all the wharves. "The Delaware was lashed into a perfect fury and the roar would have drowned the thunder of Niagara itself." The lowlands along the Delaware near New Castle, DE, were overflowed in the greatest storm surge in 70 years, probably a reference to the September hurricane of 1775.

1893 - A hurricane moved inland at the NC/SC border then moved N through central PA and western NY. The storm maintained its hurricane strength from the Carolinas to NY, where it weakened to tropical storm status. Philadelphia recorded a 1-minute wind speed of 55 mph with a measured gust to 75 mph from the SE. The wind gust was the strongest wind reported at PHL in 1893. Also, 0.14" of rain fell on the 13th, followed by 0.21"
on the 14th.