Cooler but dry for Eagles home opener, rain returns Tuesday

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — After a long, dry stretch, we're about to see rain return to the Delaware Valley, with showers and even some thunderstorms slated to move in by midweek. Until then, expect a dry Monday with seasonably warm temperatures and increasing clouds.

The dry weather will continue through the Eagles game tonight. The forecast for the Birds game against the Atlanta Falcons looks pleasant with temps at kick off in the low 70s before cooling into the 60s under mostly cloudy skies through the game.

Rain returns this week

We're watching for the return of rain to the area, something slated to happen by Wednesday with a stalled out frontal boundary to our south. Potential Tropical Cyclone #8 formed late Sunday night along the Carolinas and will be moving inland, possibly strengthening to Tropical Storm Helene, though the latest forecast keeps it just below Tropical Storm strength.

This will move inland and bring much-needed rain to the East Coast and the Appalachians.

By late Wednesday, some of the energy from this system will transfer to a new low off the coast of New Jersey, enhancing the potential for rain in our area. Showers with some localized downpours appear likely late Wednesday along the coast, with increasing rain chances further inland into Thursday. There remains a fair amount of uncertainty in the forecast through this time, but the trend signals toward bringing back the chance of rain to a good portion of the area Wednesday through Friday.

It may not be what everyone wants, but from a drought perspective some parts of the area could use a little rain. The latest drought monitor shows that parts of Burlington and Atlantic County in New Jersey are now suffering from Moderate Drought conditions. While much of the area remains in the surplus for the year, the last couple of weeks have been especially dry for this time of the year.

The NEXT Weather Team will continue to monitor the chance of rain into the middle of next week or whenever our next weather maker begins to take shape.

Here's your 7-day forecast:

Monday: High of 79, low of 59, clouds, some sun

Tuesday: High of 78, low of 67, showers arrive

Wednesday: High of 75, low of 69, showers and storms

Thursday: High of 75, low of 68, rain continues

Friday: High of 76, low of 66, a few showers

Saturday: High of 75, low of 64, partly cloudy

Sunday: High of 72, low of 59, partly cloudy

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