'Already The Wettest August On Record'

In contrast to July -- which made Pottstown one of the driest areas in the state -- August set a record for local rainfall. 

And Hurricane Irene will add to the soggy conditions.

AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Steve Travis said Irene should reach Pottstown late Saturday night and continue through Sunday afternoon.

"We expect the storm to start getting pretty close to the east coast later this weekend," he said and added Saturday will be windy.

The hurricane could bring 35 mph wind gusts and up to three inches of water, Travis said.

Weather conditions from Irene should improve by sunset on Sunday, he said.

But precipitation from the storm, which will follow more rainfall predicted for Thursday, could be a problem for an already soaked Pottstown.

Low lying and poor drainage areas could flood, he said.

"It could lead to ... downed trees, localized flooding," he said.

"It's already the wettest August on record in Philadelphia," he said of data that dates to the Civil War era. "It's unusual to get this much rain this month."