Philadelphia weather is a mood. Honestly, if you've lived here long enough, you know the drill: you leave the house in a heavy parka at 7:00 AM, and by noon, you're lugging it around like a dead weight because the sun decided to show up.
It’s just Philly.
Basically, the hourly weather Philadelphia PA provides is a constant chess match between the Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Today, Friday, January 16, 2026, is a perfect example of that struggle.
The current breakdown: Bitter air and clear skies
Right now, as we sit in the early hours of Friday, the city is under a "clear" condition, but don't let that fool you. It is cold. Like, "hurts your face" cold. The current temperature is sitting exactly at 24°F, but with a 13 mph wind whipping in from the west, it actually feels like 12°F.
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Humidity is hovering at 50%, and the UV index is a flat zero. It's dark, it's dry, and it's biting.
If you're heading out for an early shift or a coffee run at La Colombe, you're going to need those layers. The west wind isn't playing around.
What to expect hour-by-hour today
Kinda surprisingly, the day is going to brighten up quite a bit. Here is the gist of how the sky is going to behave:
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- Morning: Expect a "sunny" daytime condition. The sun is our friend today, pushing us toward a high of 35°F.
- The Wind Factor: That west wind is going to stay steady at around 12 mph. It’s going to keep that "real feel" significantly lower than the actual thermometer reading.
- Evening/Night: Things shift. The sky will turn "cloudy" as we move into the night hours. The temperature will dip back down to a low of 22°F.
One thing to keep an eye on? Precipitation. While the chance is low—currently pegged at just 10% for both day and night—there is a slight mention of snow in the forecast. It’s unlikely to stick or cause a mess on the Schuylkill Expressway, but a few stray flakes wouldn't be out of character for a Philly January.
Why Philly weather is so weird
You’ve probably noticed that the "I-95 corridor" is the favorite phrase of every meteorologist on Action News. There’s a reason for that. Philadelphia sits in a humid subtropical climate zone, but we’re right on the edge.
We get the "backwash" of moisture from the coast, but we also get the direct hits of Arctic air coming down from Canada. Experts like Paul Pastelok from AccuWeather have noted that for the 2025-2026 winter season, we’re dealing with a weak La Niña. In Philly speak, that usually means a lot of "mix" events—that annoying slush that isn't quite snow and isn't quite rain.
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The humidity and "The Freeze"
Humidity today is expected to average out at 42%. That’s relatively low, which is why the air feels so crisp. When the humidity is higher in the winter, the cold feels "heavy" and damp. Today is more of that sharp, dry cold that makes your knuckles crack.
How to handle the Friday commute
Given the hourly weather Philadelphia PA is throwing at us, here is the move:
- Don't trust the sun: Just because it’s sunny at 10:00 AM doesn't mean it's warm. That 35°F high is still barely above freezing.
- Wind protection: A windbreaker or a wool coat is better than a light puffer today. That 12-13 mph wind will cut right through cheap fleece.
- Tire pressure: These 20-degree drops at night are notorious for triggering your "low tire pressure" light. Check your sensors before you jump on I-76.
Looking ahead
The weekend is looking a bit more complicated. While today is mostly clear and sunny, the shift to cloudy skies tonight is a precursor to a potential system moving in Saturday. Local NWS reports suggest we might see a more significant chance of rain or snow as the weekend progresses.
For now, enjoy the clarity. It’s a cold, bright Philadelphia day. Grab a soft pretzel, keep your scarf tight, and maybe skip the outdoor seating for lunch.
Next steps for today:
If you're planning travel for the weekend, keep a close eye on the Saturday morning updates. The transition from tonight's 22°F low into tomorrow's system will determine if we're looking at a slushy Saturday morning or just a grey one.