Philadelphia, PA – Heavy thunderstorms late Sunday night triggered a Flash Flood Warning for parts of New Jersey and southeastern Pennsylvania, prompting officials to advise residents to avoid travel until conditions improve.
According to the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, radar showed that between 0.5 and 1.5 inches of rain had fallen by 10 p.m. in some areas, with rainfall rates of up to 3 inches per hour expected.
The Flash Flood Warning is in effect until midnight in northwestern Burlington and Camden counties in New Jersey, as well as Philadelphia and the surrounding Bucks and Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania.
A separate Flash Flood Warning has been extended until 12:15 a.m. for central Burlington County. According to weather officials, the area had already received 1.5 to 4 inches of rain from an earlier round of storms, with more rain expected overnight.
Flooding is expected in small creeks and streams, low-lying areas, and heavily trafficked highways. Communities at risk include Philadelphia, Camden, Gloucester City, Bensalem, Mount Holly, and Willingboro.
Emergency management officials warn drivers not to attempt to cross flooded roads, citing the fact that the majority of flood-related deaths occur in vehicles. The National Weather Service warned that the risk is particularly high at night, when floodwaters are harder to see.
Residents in the affected counties are advised to follow local weather alerts and avoid unnecessary travel until the storms pass.
