Ida Hits Eastern PA: Several Potential Tornadoes Slam Region

SOUTHEASTERN PA — Three different potential tornadoes threatened the greater Philadelphia area on Wednesday evening, with at least one leaving damage across a stretch of Montgomery and Bucks counties and another threatening Bucks from the south and the east. Residents and reports from emergency responders indicated severe damage, including roofs ripped off of homes in the Horsham area, as well as power lines and trees knocked down. Authorities urged the public in impacted places to shelter and to remain indoors.

The full extent of the damage remains unclear. It's also unclear how many individuals may have been injured, as emergency crews handled hundreds of water rescues across the region.

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The first of the tornadoes had potentially touched down in the Horsham, Willow Grove, Fort Washington, and Plymouth Meeting areas closer to 6 p.m. Significant damage was also reported as that front also moved into Bucks County.

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Heavy flooding slammed the area, and a flash flood warning was issued for most of Bucks County until midnight.

The storm hit Upper Dublin High School, damaging the roof of the pool, according to multiple reports.

Another potential tornado, coming from the east, moved from the Lambertville, New Jersey area over the Pennsylvania Turnpike and into Bucks County just after 7 p.m. Levittown and Falls Township were among the focal points of that front. A tornado warning was in effect for that region until 7:45 p.m.

A third potential tornado impacted deeper parts of South Jersey and parts of Philadelphia and Delaware counties along the Delaware River.

For residents in the impacted zone, if you are inside, stay away from windows, and avoid large open rooms like cafeterias, gyms, or auditoriums, officials say. If outdoors, seek shelter immediately in a sturdy building. Do not trust smaller structures like sheds, tents, storage facilities, or mobile homes.

Residents near Maple Glen reported trees and wires down as heavy winds and rain whipped the area.

First responders in Montgomery and Bucks counties also responded to dozens of water rescues, as heavy flooding shut down roads. More than 38,000 residents were impacted by power loss as of 7 p.m., according to PECO.

While the National Weather Service has not confirmed that the tornadoes have touched down, several storm experts believe they have. The Service will conduct investigations in the coming days to confirm.

This is a breaking story. Check back for updates as they become available.