Tornado, storm, and flood watches are in effect for the Philly region
The strongest storms are expected around 5 p.m. in the immediate Philly area, coinciding with the evening rush.
The entire Philly region, much of eastern Pennsylvania, all of New Jersey, and all of Delaware were under a severe-thunderstorm watch Thursday as the atmosphere threatened to turn the phrase “rush hour” into an oxymoron.
A tornado watch also was up for the entire region and all of Delaware.
A severe storm warning was in effect for parts of Chester County, including West Chester and Downingtown for wind gusts to 80 mph.
Lines of storms were gathering to the west and south of the region with the approach of a front interacting with a volatile, energized air mass. The effects could last well into the weekend.
The federal Storm Prediction Center, in Norman, Okla., which posted the storm watches, listed a 5% chance of tornadoes in the region.
And while flash-flooding was possible everywhere, the national Weather Prediction Center said the likeliest areas were from Philadelphia on north to New York City, including parts of Montgomery County and most of Bucks.
“It’s a pretty juicy air mass,” said Matt Benz, senior meteorologist for AccuWeather Inc. And more juice might be squeezed out of it over the next few days, especially Saturday.
When might the strong storms arrive in the Philly region?
Probably at the worst-possible time, said Benz.
Benz said the strongest storms likely would arrive around 5 p.m. in the immediate Philly area, right when a lot of people would be heading home.
In all likelihood, people are “going to have a tough time on the roads,” said Benz.
“It’s going to be in and out pretty quick,” he said. But the downpours could be intense enough to cause flash-flooding, especially in urbanized areas.
The fact that the sun interrupted the afternoon gloom on Thursday didn’t help matters, meteorologists said. On a day like this it’s about the last thing they would want to see.
“It’s ironic, isn’t it,” said Joe Wegman meteorologist with the government’s Weather Prediction Center, in College Park, Md.
The solar heating likely provided a jolt of energy to an already charged atmosphere.
The outlook for the weekend
If you have outdoor plans Saturday, you might not want to know.
After the front clears the region, Friday should be a decent day, Wegman said. But it’s likely to migrate back this way repurposed as a warm front, and showers are possible Friday night, and might be tapping into the same moisture supply on Saturday.
Said Benz, “I wouldn’t throw out the word washout, but it could be pretty wet on Saturday.” Steady rain is possible, as are more downpours Saturday afternoon into the night.
As for Sunday, you guessed it — another chance of showers.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
