More Severe Weather Threatens As Eastern PA Recovers From Storm

The probable tornado, heavy thunderstorms, and torrential rain that swept through the reigon on Wednesday left significant damage in its wake, knocking out power for tens of thousands of residents and leading to road closures around the region.

But the week of bizarre weather is not over yet.

Another round of afternoon-into-evening severe weather is forecasted, the National Weather Service said. A flash flood watch has been issued for all of southeastern Pennsylvania. It's in effect from 2 p.m. through 10 p.m.

Total rainfall amounts are likely to be around one to two inches, with even more in some of the hardest hit areas.

Officials warned that due to Wednesday's rainfall, it will not take much additional rain for many local rivers and streams to see significant flooding.

Like Tuesday and Wednesday, Thursday's storm will likely hit the area after 5 p.m. and before 11 p.m. Small hail is predicted along with rain and thunderstorms; larger hail, and even an isolated tornado, "cannot be ruled out," the National Weather Service said.

It's unwelcome news for residents still trying to recover from a wild Wednesday evening. Though the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed it, it seems likely that a tornado touched down in parts of Bucks County, as the Doylestown and Lansdale areas were especiallly hard hit.

Due to power outages and road closures due to downed trees and wires, all Bucks County offices were closed on Thursday. Doylestown Borough Offices, as well as some schools in the Central Bucks School District, were shut down as well.

More than 13,000 residents remained without power in the greater Philadelphia area on Thursday morning. That number includes about 7,000 in Montgomery County, 6,000 in Bucks County, and 1,000 in Chester County.

If it's confirmed that a tornado touched down in southeastern Pennsyvlania Tuesday, it would mark the second in two days, and the third in a week, in a region that almost never sees this kind of weather. The state already has recorded 22 tornadoes in 2019, which is more than the average for an entire year.

The following state roads remain closed in the area, according to PennDOT:

Bucks County

• Route 32 (River Road) between Dark Hollow Road and Cafferty Road in Tinicum Township
• Route 263 (Windy Bush Road) between Pineville Road and Aquatong Road in Solebury Township
• County Line Road at Richardson Road in Colmar Township
• Stoney Hill Road between Pineville Road and Street Road in Buckingham Township
• Pineville Road between Ridge Road and Holicong Road in Buckingham Township
• Callowhill Road at Ferry Road in New Britain Township

Chester County

• Paoli Pike at Grubb Road in Willistown Township
• Conestoga Road between Devon State Road and Hunters Lane in Easttown Township
• Waterloo Road/Devon State Road/Valley Forge Road between Gwen Lane and Old State Road in Easttown and Tredyffrin townships

Montgomery County

• Route 63 (Sumneytown Pike) between Shelly Road and Zepp Road in Upper Salford Township
• Route 63 (Main Street) between Route 563 (Ridge Road) and Route 29 (Gravel Pike) in Upper Salford Township and Green Lane Borough
• Salford Street at Old Skippack Pike in Upper Salford Township
• Spring Mount Road between Schwensville Road and Clemmers Mill Road in Upper Salford Township
• Perkiomenville Road between Old Skippack Road and Kratz Station Road in Upper Salford Township
• Old Skippack Road between Route 63 (Sumneytown Pike) and Freeman School Road in Lower Salford Township
• Hendricks Station Road at Old Skippack Pike in Upper Salford Township

Here is the updated forecast for the area:

• Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 5pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Patchy fog before 9am. Otherwise, increasing clouds, with a high near 81. Calm wind becoming southwest 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
• Thursday night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail, gusty winds, and heavy rain. Patchy fog after midnight. Low around 62. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
• Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind around 7 mph.
• Friday night: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. West wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
• Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 82. Calm wind becoming west around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Saturday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am, then a slight chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
• Sunday: A chance of showers between 8am and 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Sunday night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 58. Chance of precipitation is 30%.