Thunderstorms with wind gusts up to 65 mph could strike Lower Merion on Friday, Oct. 16, before temperatures plunge nearly 30 degrees by Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service (NWS) placed most of eastern and central Pennsylvania in its level-two "slight risk" category for severe weather, Patch first reported. The storms are most likely Friday afternoon and evening, continuing into the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 17.

The NWS forecast for Ardmore calls for a high of 80°F on Friday with showers likely, then thunderstorms Friday night with an 80 percent chance of precipitation and a low around 47°F. By Saturday, the high drops to just 52°F with breezy north winds of 15 to 20 mph. Saturday night's low falls to 36°F, and the NWS forecast calls for patchy frost Sunday morning.

That swing could bring lows 5 to 15 degrees below the seasonal average, forecasters said. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson warned that even average gusts of 25 to 40 mph will be strong enough to cause problems around the neighborhood.

"Winds will be strong enough to send leaves, as well as unsecured trash cans, recycling bins and Halloween decorations flying through neighborhoods," Anderson said.

AccuWeather also noted that a brief tornado is possible in eastern Pennsylvania during Friday afternoon and evening storms. Wind gusts in the most potent storms could reach 55 to 65 mph.

The cold snap lands on Ardmore Day, the Ardmore Business Association's annual celebration scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Schauffele Plaza on Cricket Avenue. The free event features a vintage car show, a family corn maze and the Ardbark Dog Parade. Dress warm. The NWS expects highs in the low 50s with steady wind.

Lower Merion residents have recent experience with storm damage. A series of microbursts on July 11 brought 60 to 70 mph winds that knocked out power to nearly 7,500 customers, downed trees on at least 55 township streets and prompted a state of emergency, according to Main Line Media News.

The township communicates emergency information through its website, social media accounts and its Blackboard Connect notification system, according to the township's emergency management page.

Temperatures are expected to rebound to near-seasonal averages by early the following week, AccuWeather reported.