Severe thunderstorms wreak havoc across Philadelphia region
- Severe thunderstorms swept through the Philadelphia region late Thursday night into Friday morning.
- Several areas, including Delaware County and parts of New Jersey, reported significant storm damage.
- Power outages affected thousands, prompting school closures and ongoing recovery efforts.
On Thursday night and early Friday morning, fast-moving thunderstorms impacted the Philadelphia region, leading to severe weather conditions characterized by heavy rain, strong winds, and localized instances of large hail. The storms resulted in widespread damage, particularly in areas such as Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and Gloucester and Camden counties. Reports of downed trees, scattered debris, and flooded streets emerged as the storms swept through. In Delaware County, officials noted that the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District closed due to power outages affecting transportation abilities. Ridley High School also closed early due to a power outage. As a result, thousands of residents faced power disruptions, with more than 3,000 customers affected in Delaware County alone. Utilities reported staggering numbers of outages, with PECO and PSE&G reporting the highest figures. Additionally, some communities in New Jersey experienced major incidents of fall hazards due to uprooted trees blocking roadways. The National Weather Service dispatched teams to survey damage in the affected areas, and power restoration efforts were ongoing as the storm damage reports continued to accumulate. Looking ahead, weather forecasts predict additional rain over the weekend, posing further challenges for recovery efforts and prompting residents to remain cautious as conditions stabilize. Wind gusts that accompanied the storms were documented to reach up to 30 mph, increasing the risk of falling branches and storm debris in already compromised areas.