'Bomb Cyclone' Storm To Bring Heavy Rain, Wind To Eastern PA

EASTERN PENNSYLVANIA — A storm forecasters are classifying as a "bomb cyclone" will make its way across the Philadelphia region Wednesday, bringing heavy rain, thunderstorms, flooding, and strong winds. The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook across the region, saying localized flooding is likely and wind gusts of up to 40 mph are possible.

The rain will move out overnight, but the strong winds will impact the region Thursday with continued gusts of up to 40 mph.

The storm timeline offered by the National Weather Service predicts the rain and thunderstorms are likely to start after 4 p.m. Wednesday. The chance of precipitation from the storm is 90 percent. Two inches of rain or more is possible, the National Weather Service said.

The rain is likely to taper off by 3 a.m. but breezy conditions will linger through Thursday.

AccuWeather has classified the storm as a "bomb cyclone" and the Weather Channel confirms the storm could intensify fast enough to undergo bombogenesis.

The barometric pressure has to fall at least 24 millibars, or 0.71 inches, in 24 hours for the storm to be considered a bomb cyclone.

The storm is expected to "pack a heavy punch" across the entire Northeast. Travel disruptions, tree damage, power outages and coastal flooding are all likely impacts, AccuWeather predicts.

Conditions will "deteriorate rapidly" from southwest to northeast on Wednesday. "Farther to the east, more moisture will be available, and the storm will have time to strengthen enough to slow down and produce significantly heavier rainfall," Brett Rossio, an AccuWeather meteorologist, said.

Commuters should expect a "miserable" rush hour throughout the Philadelphia region Wednesday.

Important note for baseball fans: the storm could impact Game 4 of baseball's American League Championship Series in the Bronx Wednesday between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees. A rainout would push the game to Thursday, the Weather Channel noted.