Severe storms are closing in on the Northeast and extreme heat is headed to the Midwest as Americans gear up to enjoy the long Fourth of July weekend.

After a very busy weather week, we will be rewarded significantly with perfect July Fourth weather in the Philadelphia region.

Impact weather is expected from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, with heavy rain during the 4th of July holiday. Showers will quickly develop in the afternoon, leading to scattered storms this evening. The impact weather continues for Saturday as we will have more rain and storms at the start of the weekend.