Tropical Storm Ophelia Slams PA With Rain, Gusty Winds: Latest Impacts

PHILADELPHIA, PA — Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall early Saturday morning just shy of hurricane strength and is expected to trek northward through the weekend, bringing strong winds, rain and flooding to the Philadelphia area.

Southeastern Pennsylvania was already feeling the effects of Ophelia on Saturday as rain and wind gusts up to 30 mph pounded the region. A flood advisory along the Delaware River is in effect from 7 p.m. until midnight Saturday for Philadelphia, as well as Delaware and Lower Bucks counties.

Residents living in coastal areas are at the greatest risk for storm impacts, forecasters said. According to the National Weather Service, minor and spotty coastal flooding is expected for much of the Philadelphia area.

Strong winds are expected to continue through Saturday afternoon with gusts between 30-50 mph inland and 50-60 mph in coastal areas. Forecasters said the powerful winds could result in downed trees and power lines, leading to potential power outages.

The strong winds will lead to dangerous marine conditions, building up to 10-15 feet across all marine zones into Saturday night.

Click here to view all the current watches and warnings for Pennsylvania from the National Weather Service. View the NWS graphic below to see potential hazards, impacts, and timing for the storm this weekend:

Ophelia came ashore with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph around 6:15 a.m. and was expected to weaken as it turns north Saturday and then shifts northeast on Sunday, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said.

At 11 a.m., Ophelia was located about 75 miles northwest of Cape Lookout, North Carolina, and was packing maximum sustained winds of 50 mph. The storm was moving north at 13 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Wind gusts were recorded as high as 72 mph at Cape Lookout on Saturday morning. More than 80,000 customers had lost power as of 8 a.m., according to PowerOutage.us, with about one-half of that number in North Carolina.

In Pennsylvania, the storm is expected to drop 1.5-2.5 inches of rain with 3-4 inches possible in some coastal areas, forecasters said. The heaviest rains were expected to fall at the Shore Saturday morning before pivoting to the Philadelphia area Saturday afternoon and evening, Dean Iovino of the National Weather Service told the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Heavy rains could continue into Sunday, Iovino told the newspaper.

Here is the National Weather Service forecast for the Philadelphia area through Sunday:

Saturday: Periods of rain. High near 64. Breezy with a northeast wind 20 to 25 mph and gusts as high as 40 mph.

Saturday Night: Periods of rain. Low around 60. Breezy with a northeast wind 15 to 20 mph and gusts as high as 35 mph.

Sunday: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. High near 68. East wind around 15 mph.

Sunday Night: Showers likely, mainly before 2 a.m. Cloudy with a low around 60. Northeast wind around 10 mph.