Expect wet Shore, dry Phils

Light rain and occasional showers should persist today in the Philadelphia area and at the Jersey Shore, but the skies should be clear - or nearly so - when the Phillies take the field at Citizens Bank Park tonight to play the Dodgers.

"This pattern will break just in time for the workweek, and most of that looks pretty good," said Anthony Gigi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly.

Back-to-back nor'easters have hit the region, beginning Thursday. The first was stronger than the second, but temperatures remain much lower than normal - in the 40s rather than the 60s.

And Shore communities have experienced moderate flooding, with some bridge closings affecting the barrier islands off Cape May County.

By last evening, all but the Townsends Inlet Bridge, between Avalon and Sea Isle City, had reopened, said Adam Poindexter of the Cape May County Office of Emergency Management.

Sgt. Stephen Jones, a New Jersey State Police spokesman, said police had been standing by all day with rescue boats and trucks capable of "wading through higher water to effect a rescue."

"But everyone seems to be doing OK. This storm didn't exactly roll in with great surprise. People knew it was coming," Jones said last night.

Yesterday's rainfall measured about a half-inch at Philadelphia International Airport. The Shore had less, Gigi said, but may have slightly more rain than the city today, with possible winds up to 40 m.p.h.

"This is definitely not a bad storm for the Philadelphia area," he added, "but for the Jersey Shore, it's bad enough."

Coastal flood advisories were to remain in effect through this morning's high tides.