Ida's Fallout Brings Flash Flood Watch To Chesco

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Chester County is under a Flash Flood Watch Wednesday afternoon after it was also included among 11 southcentral PA counties that were under a Tornado Watch until 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

The fallout of Tropical Depression Ida has not passed with the Tornado Watch lifting. The National Weather Service has issued the Flash Flood Watch for Chester County and a swath of eastern Pennsylvania as heavy rainfalls in the area this afternoon. Between 3 and 6 inches of rain is expected to fall before the storm system passes, but the NWS said there could be more in some places. The rain is forecast to fall heavily in a short time, said the NWS.

The Flash Flood Watch extends into Thursday for portions of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including these areas: Pennsylvania counties; Berks., Carbon, Delaware, Eastern Chester, Eastern Montgomery, Lehigh, Lower Bucks, Monroe, Northampton, Philadelphia, Upper Bucks, Western Chester, and Western Montgomery.

The NWS warned that after the rains stop, flooding is possible as creeks and rivers fill up. The NWS advises residents in the Flood Watch areas to forecasts and to be prepared to take action, should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.

"Much of this rainfall may occur in a short period of time, exacerbating the flooding threat," NWS said. Combined with wet conditions already in place, the NWS said it expects the fast, heavy rain create to many instances of flash flooding, some significant.

The Brandywine Regional Airport reported the temperature was 72 degrees just before 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Showers and thunderstorms are likely across Chester County late this afternoon, and some storms could be severe, with damaging winds and heavy rain, the NWS said. Tonight's low temperature is forecast to be 61 degrees Fahrenheit as rains may continue to fall through the night.

What's left of Ida will move off the Northeast Coast on Thursday morning, leaving the floods to rise on the already soggy Mid-Atlantic region. Friday is forecast to be sunny with a high temperature of 74 degrees in Chester County.

What's the difference between a Watch and a Warning? Read about it here.

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