PA Weather: Severe Thunderstorms, Flooding, 70 MPH Winds In Forecast

PENNSYLVANIA - Severe thunderstorms, flooding and fierce winds are all in the cards when Monday’s afternoon storm hits the Keystone State, forecasters said.

Damaging wind gusts up to 70 mph will serve as the largest threats throughout the state, as well as flash flooding and large hail, the National Weather Service said.

Though some showers and thunderstorms are already entering the area Monday morning, the main event is expected to travel from west to east starting at 2 p.m., with the greatest severe thunderstorm potential to come after 4 p.m., the weather service said. While the greater Philadelphia region is at an “enhanced” risk of numerous severe and persistent storms, the rest of the state is slated to see possible scattered, short-lived or not widespread storms.

Widespread rainfall amounts of 1 to 2 inches, with local amounts between 3 to 5 inches, are expected, resulting in potential flash flooding, the weather service said. As of Monday morning, a flood watch is in effect for 21 Pennsylvania counties. The affected counties are:

• Berks
• Bradford
• Bucks
• Carbon
• Chester
• Columbia
• Delaware
• Lackawanna
• Lancaster
• Lebanon
• Lehigh
• Luzerne
• Monroe
• Montgomery
• Northampton
• Pike
• Schuylkill
• Sullivan
• Susquehanna
• Wayne
• Wyoming

"Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations," the weather service said. "Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas. Low-water crossings may be flooded."

A hazardous weather outlook is also in effect for over 50 Pennsylvania counties due to possible flooding through Monday night. Those counties are:

• Adams
• Armstrong
• Bedford
• Berks
• Blair
• Bradford
• Broome
• Cambria
• Cameron
• Carbon
• Centre
• Chester
• Clarion
• Clearfield
• Clinton
• Columbia
• Cumberland
• Dauphin
• Delaware
• Elk
• Forest
• Franklin
• Fulton
• Huntingdon
• Jefferson
• Juniata
• Lackawanna
• Lancaster
• Lebanon
• Lehigh
• Luzerne
• Lycoming
• McKean
• Mifflin
• Montgomery
• Montour
• Northumberland
• Perry
• Pike
• Potter
• Schuylkill
• Snyder
• Somerset
• Sullivan
• Susquehanna
• Tioga
• Union
• Warren
• Wayne
• Westmoreland
• Wyoming
• York

Wet weather with scattered storms is expected to linger in the state until at least mid-week, when the daily threat of thunderstorms lowers to around 50 percent from Thursday to Sunday.

Here’s the latest forecast around Pennsylvania, per the National Weather Service:

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 3 p.m. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 84. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m., then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2 and 3 a.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3 a.m. Some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain. Patchy fog after 2 a.m. Low around 64. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday: A chance of showers, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 2 p.m. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Tuesday Night: Showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 11 p.m. Low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: A chance of showers between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8 p.m., then a chance of showers between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.