Inbound Thunderstorms Trigger Flood Warnings: Latest PA Forecast

PENNSYLVANIA – Heavy rain, gusty winds and flooding is possible during a springtime storm set to hit the Keystone State just ahead of the weekend, forecasters said.

Several inches of rain are expected from Thursday into Friday night, according to the National Weather Service. Moderate coastal flooding is also expected from Bucks to Delaware counties.

“Widespread coastal flooding is forecast with the Thursday night to Friday morning high tide as strong onshore winds develop,” the weather service said. “The greatest impacts from flooding are forecast to occur along the areas in red, where moderate coastal flooding is forecast.”

As of 9:30 a.m., three Pennsylvania counties are under a costal flood warning until Friday morning. The affected counties are:

• Delaware
• Philadelphia
• Bucks

“At this level, widespread roadway flooding occurs in coastal and bayside communities and along inland tidal waterways,” the National Weather Service said. “Many roads become impassable. Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur.”

The skies are expected to clear just in time for the weekend, with daytime highs near 60 degrees and partly sunny skies possible, forecasters said.

Here’s the latest forecast, according to the National Weather Service:

Thursday: Showers likely, mainly after 5 p.m. Cloudy, with a high near 68. South wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 5 a.m., then showers likely. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 57. Breezy, with a south wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 45 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Friday: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 8 a.m. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 66. Breezy, with a southwest wind around 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night: A slight chance of showers before 8 p.m., then a slight chance of showers after 2 a.m. Increasing clouds, with a low around 47. West wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.
Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high near 63. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 45.