Heavy Rain Flooding the Philadelphia Area

By Kristina Pydynowski, Senior Meteorologist

July 28,2013; 4:25PM,EDT

 

 

Less humid air is following the drenching showers and thunderstorms that are slowly pushing across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic.
One such drenching thunderstorm dropped 2.56 inches of rain on Philadelphia's International Airport in one hour, ending at 4 p.m. EDT Sunday. Rain totals topped 4 inches by 5 p.m.
Runoff from the heavy rain flooded ramps between Interstate 95 and Broad Street in Philadelphia. Flooding also ensued on Interstate 76 in nearby Gloucester City, N.J.
Additional flooding is sure to result as the band of heavy rain continues to stream through the early evening hours.

This radar image was taken at 4:15 p.m. EDT Sunday.
Localized flash flooding will remain a concern as the showers and thunderstorms occurring along and ahead of a cold front crawl eastward through Monday.
Low-lying and poor drainage areas, as well as places along small streams are most susceptible to any flash flooding.
A handful of the thunderstorms will also produce damaging winds. A tornado touching down would be an isolated occurrence but cannot be ruled out.
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The drenching thunderstorms will clear Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., by late Sunday night, then Atlantic City, N.J., and Richmond, Va., by Monday.
The drier air will work into New York City and Albany, N.Y., starting midday Monday. The majority of the drenching thunderstorms must first pass through Sunday night, especially early, with a lingering shower to follow for Monday morning.
Monday night is when Boston and Portland will dry out.

The departure of the drenching showers and thunderstorms will be followed by the return of less humid air.
Partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-80s will compliment Monday in New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
Farther to the north across the eastern Great Lakes and northern New England, the drop in humidity behind the cold front will not necessarily lead to dry weather.

Clouds and spotty showers will linger an extra day, Monday around the Great Lakes and Tuesday in northern New England as an area of low pressure moves through.
Monday will actually feel more like September than late July around the eastern Great Lakes, including in Buffalo, as temperatures are held to the upper 60s and lower 70s.