PHILADELPHIA, PA — A tornado watch is in effect for parts of eastern Pennsylvania as a round of severe storms is expected to bring heavy rain, damaging wind and large hail through Saturday evening.
The watch remains active until 9 p.m. for 10 counties, and forecasters say the same system could produce flash flooding in low-lying and poorly drained areas.
Which counties are under the tornado watch?
The National Weather Service said the watch includes Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties.
Forecasters also said several rounds of showers and thunderstorms were possible Saturday morning and would likely continue into the evening hours.
How serious is the severe weather risk?
The Storm Prediction Center has placed Pennsylvania in an Enhanced Risk level, which is a 3 out of 5 on its severe weather scale. That designation means storms could produce damaging wind, frequent cloud-to-ground lightning, large hail and flash flooding.
The National Weather Service said the tornado threat is notably high and warned that the strongest tornado could reach EF2 intensity.
What kind of rainfall and flooding could develop?
Forecasters said thunderstorms may produce very heavy rain, with rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour possible. That kind of downpour can quickly overwhelm streets, creeks and streams.
A flash flood watch is also in effect until 2 a.m. Sunday for eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and northern Delaware.
What does the forecast call for after Saturday?
Saturday is expected to bring a high near 88 with showers and thunderstorms becoming more likely after 4 p.m., followed by more storms Saturday night and a low around 73.
Sunday should turn partly sunny and then sunny, with temperatures near 86, while Monday is forecast to stay sunny before another chance of showers and thunderstorms returns late Monday night and Tuesday.
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