First snow and sleet, now rain, wind, flood concerns
After a round of snow, sleet and freezing temperatures, the Philadelphia region is being drenched in a rain more worthy of April than February.
After a round of snow, sleet and freezing temperatures, the Philadelphia region is being drenched in a rain more worthy of April than February.
A flood advisory has been issued for South Jersey and southeastern Bucks County until 5:15 p.m. because of the heavy downpours.
A wind gust of 65 mph was recorded in Pittsgrove, Salem County. Strong winds apparently blew down the scoreboard and knocked out power at Gloucester High School.
The National Weather Service briefly issued a rare severe thunderstorm warning, but it was not immediately known if any thunderstorms had struck before the warning for the immediate area expired at 1:30 p.m.
A second warning was issued for New Jersey north of Burlington County until 2:45 p.m.
Thunderstorms occur on average about once every three years in February, according to weather-service data, but three were observed in February 2014.
Here's what you need to know about how the weather is affecting the region:
MASS TRANSIT
SEPTA: A downed tree near Trevose station halted service on the West Trenton Line for about two hours Tuesday afternoon. Travel resumed around 2:30 p.m.
HIGHWAYS
A number of accidents have been reported around the region all day, including two separate tractor-trailer crashes on the Walt Whitman Bridge. One of the rigs flipped on its side, and minutes later another truck pinned an SUV to the movable median, said Mike Williams, a spokesman for the Delaware River Port Authority.
Just before both wrecks, bridge workers had reduced speeds to 25 mph on the bridge and banned trucks with empty trailers, due to high winds, Williams said. It was unclear, though, whether the winds contributed to either crash.
Bridge traffic remains restricted to just one lane open in either direction, as authorities investigate and clean the scene. Speed restrictions have been lifted, Williams said.
There are no reports of any fatalities in the crashes Tuesday.
Speed restrictions earlier were lifted from highways in the Philadelphia area, though caution is advised because of the wet roadways.
AIRPORT
Because of the weather, some flight to Philadelphia International Airport are delayed about a half-hour. As of 1:45 p.m. about 45 flights have been canceled.
