By Arthur A. Person
As we sit at the doorstep of meteorological fall (September 1st), the weather has gotten a head start with temperatures for the last several days averaging well below normal, thanks to an outbreak of cool Canadian air. Except for a brief warm-up Friday, and some warmer weather early next week, below normal temperatures will dominate our weather for the next couple of weeks. The next chances for rainfall will be Sunday, Monday and Wednesday. Although tropical storm Dorian will move steadily northwestward toward Florida, cool Canadian air from the north will likely prevent Dorian from affecting Pennsylvania, but some forecast scenarios do bring rainfall as far north as Pennsylvania along a frontal boundary late next week, so the track of Dorian bears watching.
Sunshine but breezy, cool conditions will affect Pennsylvania for Thursday with high temperatures in the 70s to near 80 in the southeast. Friday will continue sunny and breezy, but a bit milder with high temperatures reaching the mid 70s to lower 80s in the southeast. Cooler again for Saturday with temperatures only reaching the low to mid 70s as clouds increase, and Sunday will be cloudy with light rain showers with temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s. Milder air returns for Monday with high temperatures in the mid 70s to lower 80s along with a chance for some scattered afternoon showers. For Tuesday and Wednesday, expect warmer conditions with temperatures in the low to mid 80s. On Wednesday, a cold front will cross the state bringing a chance for showers and thunderstorms, and then cooler conditions will return heading into the following weekend. Longer term, the month of September is expected to be near normal in temperature and below normal for precipitation.