Eastern Montgomery County faces a heat advisory and the threat of more severe thunderstorms Thursday, Sept. 3, after overnight storms triggered flash flood warnings across the area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Mount Holly, N.J., issued a heat advisory in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday for Eastern Montgomery, Philadelphia, Delaware and Lower Bucks counties. Heat index values could reach 102 degrees. The NWS warned that the combination of heat and humidity could cause heat-related illness.
Residents in Whitemarsh, Plymouth and Whitpain townships fall within the advisory zone. The NWS urged people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, avoid the sun and check on relatives and neighbors. Outdoor workers should schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or cooled areas, the advisory stated. Heat stroke is a medical emergency requiring a call to 911.
Overnight flooding
The storms are not over. The NWS issued a flash flood warning at 3:38 a.m. Thursday for southeastern Montgomery County and surrounding areas, in effect until 5:30 a.m. Doppler radar and automated rain gauges showed 0.5 to 1 inch of rain had already fallen, with an additional 0.5 to 1.5 inches possible. Norristown was among the locations expected to experience flash flooding.
The NWS warned residents to avoid flooded roads. Most flood deaths occur in vehicles.
More storms Thursday afternoon
The NWS forecast calls for a chance of showers and thunderstorms mainly after 3 p.m. Thursday, with partly sunny skies and a high near 92 degrees. The NWS described the severe thunderstorm risk for Wednesday, Sept. 2, into Thursday as highly conditional and uncertain but noted a continued threat of severe storms capable of 58-plus mph winds, hail one inch or larger and possible tornadoes across Southeast Pennsylvania, according to a statement reported by Patch.
The Philadelphia region faced a Level 2 out of 5 severe storm threat for a third consecutive day, a stretch forecasters said has occurred only twice before in September since 2008, according to South Philly Review.
Tuesday's damage still being felt
Tuesday night's storms knocked out power for more than 65,000 customers across Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, South Philly Review reported. Trees toppled onto homes and downed power lines in parts of the region, Fox 29 reported. A tornado warning was issued for Burlington County, N.J., though no tornado was confirmed as of Wednesday, Sept. 2.
How to stay safe
Montgomery County declares a Code Red Hot Weather Emergency when the temperature or heat index reaches 100 degrees or higher for two or more hours. During a Code Red, cooling programs open at more than 70 sites across the region. Residents can sign up for ReadyMontco alerts to receive severe weather and Code Red notifications on their phones through the Montgomery County Office of Public Health.
The NWS extended forecast calls for sunny skies Saturday, Sept. 5, with a high near 82 degrees. Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7, looks sunny with a high near 81.
