Philly’s 18-day dry spell has ended, with rains and slick roads expected through Friday morning
Wet leaves can behave "like ice," and beware of a California-like hazard.
At 7 a.m. Thursday, officially a mighty 0.01 inches had been measured at Philadelphia International Airport, ending Philly’s longest dry spell in two years.
And after that long dry run, before the rains come to end on Friday, the region’s motorists may be contending with a hazard more common to Californians.
After more light showers Thursday, steadier rains were expected at night into Friday, said Zack Cooper, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, with totals of a half-inch to an inch around Philly. Heftier amounts are likely near the Shore, he said.
The rain was likely to continue through the Friday morning peak commuting period, he said, and raindrops won’t be the only thing falling.
With the end of the peak foliage season comes the peak leaf-fall seasons, and officials warn that wet leaves could be a nuisance for motorists and Regional Rail commuters.
In addition, storm drains are prone to clogging with wet leaf-fall, which can lead to road ponding.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation staff in Philly and the neighboring counties “have been clearing drains, inlets, and debris on interstates and major routes,” spokesperson Brad Rudolph said.
For its part, SEPTA was advising Regional Rail commuters to expect delays.
“The main issue customers may notice is a bit of a slowdown from top speeds — about 10 mph,” spokesperson Andrew Busch said. ”It typically does not result in canceled trips, and as long as there are no other issues impacting service, the slippery rail delays are usually kept to a few minutes or so."
He added: “We have had our track-cleaning train out regularly in recent weeks and that will continue tonight, so we think we are in pretty good shape.”
On the roads, the wet leaves can become “almost like ice out there,” said Isaac Longley, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc.
After experiencing a California-like dry spell, drivers may get a taste of a common problem in the heavily trafficked areas of the Golden State when rains have broken a dry spell.
In dry times, “you get a lot of oil building on roadways,” Longley said. “Once you see that first rain in a while, that can cause some slippery spots.”
The rains were being generated by a slowly approaching cold front, and some part of the region is going to get a serious soaking. Downpours were likely to be confined to a “narrow corridor,” Longley said.
The weather service said it was possible that up to 3 inches could fall in areas that receive the heaviest rains. Cooper said those areas likely would be to the south and east of the city.
Thursday’s precipitation ended a stretch of 18 days without measurable rain in Philadelphia, the longest dry run since the rainless October of 2024.
The weekly interagency U.S. Drought Monitor report Thursday noted “abnormally dry” areas in parts of Bucks, Montgomery, and Burlington Counties, but overall the region remained drought-free.
After the rains shut off Friday, “the weekend is looking really good,” Longley said. Saturday and Sunday should be sunny with afternoon temperatures in the low 60s, just a shade above the normals for the date.
