The weather today will be delightful, bordering on gorgeous, with highs approaching the low 90s and plenty of sun, as a high pressure system lingers over the region before heading out to sea.

The Fourth of July weekend, however, may see more than fireworks lighting up the skies.

Showers and thunderstorms could sweep through the Philadelphia area over the next three days, said forecasters at the National Weather Service.

"If we could just move the nation's birthday up one day, everything would be fine," said meteorologist Mark DeLisi. "But I don't think tomorrow will be a washout."

A low-pressure system moves in tonight, bringing cooler temps, more humidity, and partly-cloudy skies from Philadelphia's western suburbs to the Shore.

A chance of a mid-day thunderstorm may throw a wet blanket onto some Independence Day parades. Areas north and west of the city more likely to see rain.

The long term forecast is less than festive. The so-called "cold front" will stick around, keeping showers and thunderstorms in the forecast through the middle of the next week. Though technically "cold," temperatures will remain near or slightly above normal through Wednesday.

"It'll be cooler Friday, Saturday and Sunday," said DeLisi. "But by no stretch of the imagination will it feel like an autumn breath of fresh air, it will be somewhat warm and humid."

High tides, in conjunction with the new moon, may cause some nuisance flooding Down the Shore and along the Delaware coastlines, forecasters said.

"It does appear that there will be a wet period over the weekend," surmises the official forecast from the National Weather Service. For better or worse, the forecast adds that most of the precipitation will fall at night.