By Arthur A. Person
Abnormal dryness is affecting eastern and southeastern areas of Pennsylvania, and this pattern will continue through next week. Cold fronts will cross the state on Thursday and Saturday, but rainfall associated with these fronts will mostly affect western and northern areas where rainfall is only slightly below normal. Despite some cooler days, average temperatures so far this month have been 3-4 degrees above normal in southwestern areas while northeastern counties have been 1-2 degrees above normal. The cold fronts will bring some cooler air into the state for brief periods, but strong high pressure in the southeastern U.S. will return warm air northward keeping temperatures above normal.
For Thursday, a cold front crossing the state will bring an upward bounce in temperatures to southeastern Pennsylvania with readings in the mid 80s, while northwestern areas will struggle to reach 70. A few showers could affect the northwestern half of the state, but amounts will be light. Friday will be mostly sunny and pleasant with temperatures in the 70s. Another cold front will cross the state Saturday bringing partly sunny skies with a chance for showers. Temperatures will range from the upper 60s in the northwest to the low 80s in the southeast. Partial cloudiness will linger across the south and west for Sunday with temperatures mainly in the low 70s, and Monday will be partly cloudy in the west and mostly sunny in the east with temperatures ranging from near 70 in the northeast to near 80 in the southwest. Tuesday through Thursday of next week will turn very warm with temperatures in the 80s ahead of a cold front that should cross the region next Thursday, with cooler weather expected for the weekend of October 5th. Longer term, the month of October is expected to be above normal in temperature, and near to slightly below normal for precipitation.