PHILADELPHIA — A fast-moving severe thunderstorm that arrived shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday battered the Philadelphia region with heavy rain, strong winds and lightning, leaving widespread damage, blocked roadways and more than 26,000 customers without electricity, utility and city officials said.
Storm impacts across the region
The National Weather Service issued severe thunderstorm warnings for parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and southwestern New Jersey including Philadelphia, Montgomery and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania and Camden and Gloucester counties in New Jersey. The storm toppled trees onto parked cars and downed power lines in multiple neighborhoods.
- Multiple trees fell on vehicles in Philadelphia, some bringing down power lines.
- PECO reported over 26,000 customers without power as of 10 p.m. Saturday.
- Insulation was ripped from roofs at several Philadelphia Housing Authority buildings, allowing water intrusion and damaging 11 units; affected families were temporarily relocated.
Local responses and safety alerts
Officials in Lower Merion Township declared a state of emergency after the storm produced significant flooding and damage there. Township police urged residents to remain at home and avoid obstructed roadways while crews work to clear debris.
"We are aware of the numerous reports of trees and wires down, and many roadways are blocked. Please stay at home and off the roads,"
PECO representatives said crews were responding to outages in multiple areas. City leaders and utility crews warned residents to steer clear of downed lines and to report outages or damage through official channels.
Where damage was reported
A mix of flooding and wind damage was reported across the region. In Haverford Township there was at least one report of lightning striking a home. In Camden County, storefronts experienced shin-level flooding during the storm.
| Area | Reported Problems |
|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Downed trees on cars, power lines, PHA roof damage (11 units) |
| Montgomery County / Lower Merion | Flooding, blocked roads, state of emergency declared |
| Bucks & Delaware counties | Heavy winds and driving rain |
| Camden County, NJ | Severe flooding in businesses and intersections |
What residents should expect next
Forecasts indicated Sunday would be clearer and less humid before humidity returns ahead of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Philadelphia on Tuesday. City and county recovery efforts were focused on clearing roadways, restoring power and assisting families displaced by housing damage.
Officials urged residents to monitor local alerts for updates on power restoration, road reopenings and recovery resources.
