Severe Thunderstorm Warnings Issued With Wind Gusts, Lightning In PA Forecast

This story was last updated at 3:23 p.m.

PENNSYLVANIA — Several counties in southeastern Pennsylvania are under a severe thunderstorm warning as a storm with 60-mile-per-hour winds and quarter-sized hail moves into the Philadelphia region.

The warning is in effect until 4 p.m. for parts of Bucks, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties, per the National Weather Service.

"Wind damage to roofs, siding, trees, and power lines is possible," said the weather service.

East central Lancaster County is also under a severe thunderstorm warning until 4:30 p.m.

An additional 1-2 inches of rain are possible in the region, said the National Weather Service. The following areas are under flash flood warnings, per the NWS:

• West central Bucks and north central Montgomery counties, until 4 p.m.
• South central Delaware County, until 5:45 p.m.
• Southeastern Delaware County and southwestern Philadelphia counties, until 6 p.m.
• North central Chester County and northwestern Montgomery County, until 7 p.m.
• Central Chester County, until 7:15 p.m.

View all current NWS severe weather watches and warnings in Pennsylvania here.

Severe weather, including widespread clusters of thunderstorms, are in the cards into Tuesday evening for southeastern Pennsylvania as the state heats up in preparation for triple-digit temperatures later this week, forecasters said.

Tuesday is slated to see high temperatures pushing 90 degrees with potentially severe thunderstorms, localized flash flooding, large hail and damaging winds up to 70 mph in the afternoon, the National Weather Service said.

Counties including Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton, and Philadelphia remain under a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

The highest threat for severe storms will take place between 1 and 9 p.m. across the Susquehanna Valley and eastward, with most storms exiting the state by the late evening.

Flash flooding will most severely affect areas north and west of the I-95 corridor, forecasters said.

“Scattered storms are forecast to develop this afternoon,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly station said in a statement. “Not everyone will experience a storm, but remain alert for changing conditions!”

Wednesday will see temperatures hovering around 90 degrees and sunny skies before severe thunderstorms are possible again on Thursday with the mercury hitting the mid-90s, the weather service said. Heat and humidity will crescendo on Friday with heat indices - what the temperature feels like to the human body - reaching up to 105 degrees in Allentown, 106 degrees in Reading and 107 in Philadelphia.

The blazing temperatures between Thursday and Saturday is forecast to be a moderate heat wave, Accuweather said.

Another round of showers & storms is poised to move into southwestern PA late tonight and track across at least the southern half of PA into the daylight hours on Tuesday. A few storms may become severe as they move across the Susquehanna Valley and eastward later Tue. #PAwx pic.twitter.com/QBAQ2qYuJ3
— NWS State College (@NWSStateCollege) July 24, 2023

Forecasters say that fans of cooler temperatures may get a break from the scorching heat soon as a cold front over the weekend is expected to bring cooler weather, especially by Sunday.

The third week of July is typically the warmest week of the year, the National Weather Service said, with average temperatures set to slowly decrease for the next few weeks until a steep September drop-off.

Any extreme heat after this week is likely to be short-lived, Accuweather said, as current weather data suggests cooler air will come to the Northeast by the beginning of August.

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

Tuesday: A slight chance of showers, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Light southwest wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 30 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1 a.m., then a slight chance of showers between 1 and 2 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening. Chance of precipitation is 40 percent. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 89. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind around 5 mph.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2 p.m. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Thursday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 77. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 96.

Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 76.