PA Weather: Thunderstorms, Flooding Possible During PM Commute

PENNSYLVANIA - Heavy rain and thunderstorms in the Keystone State may significantly affect commuters Thursday afternoon and evening, forecasters said.

Showers are expected to start Thursday morning, with thunderstorms to be ushered in sometime after 2 p.m., the National Weather Service said. The greatest chance for heavy rain and storms will be during the late afternoon, which may affect rush hour travel. Localized flooding is also possible.

“Pack your rain gear today and give yourself extra time to get around this evening,” the National Weather Service Mount Holly Station said in a statement.

Airline delays and flight cancellations are expected to spike Thursday, as the severe weather may affect airport hubs in New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Atlanta and more, according to AccuWeather. Motorists should also anticipate "significant delays," ponding and poor visibility on highways.

Peak wind gusts, which could approach 80 mph in some areas, will be able to down trees, trigger power outages and cause damage to properties, the outlet added.

As of 7 a.m., over 50 Pennsylvania counties are under a hazardous weather outlook through Thursday night due to flood risks. The affected counties are:

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

"Locally heavy rainfall could result in isolated instances of flooding later this morning and this afternoon, especially in areas of enhanced runoff and where recent rainfall has greatly increased soil moisture,” the National Weather Service said.

Friday will be a welcome break from wet weather with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-80s before Saturday brings another chance of thunderstorms, forecasters said.

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

Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 82. South wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80 percent. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before midnight, then a slight chance of showers between midnight and 2 a.m. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 65. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming northwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60 percent. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Friday: Sunny, with a high near 85. West wind 5 to 10 mph.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 66. South wind around 5 mph.

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 5 to 10 mph.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 20 percent.

Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 88.

Sunday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 67.