Flooding Rains on the Way

Flood Watches issued for most of the area

A Flood Watch is in effect for the entire area from Thursday morning until Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

It won't take a lot of rain to cause flooding, especially from Philadelphia northward to the Poconos, and in Central and Northern New Jersey, where only 1 to 1 1/2 inches should trigger flooding. We expect an average of 2 to 4 inches across that area with this storm with the heaviest rain falling late Thursday.

There are other issues as well. The strong southeast flow off the ocean will do more than add moisture to an already wet system. It could lead to coastal flooding at the shore, and push water up Delaware Bay that should add to flooding along the Delaware River.

Rain should increase during the day Thursday, with the heaviest rain late in the day and at night. An inch or two of rain in just a six- to eight-hour period could lead to flash flooding in some areas. It should take creeks a bit longer to flood and even longer for river flooding.

Even heavier rains upstream from the Schuylkill and Delaware Rivers should cause the flooding to travel downstream late Friday and into early Saturday, long after the rain has ended.


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