What to Know
- The New Jersey Shore and Delaware Beaches are no longer under a tropical storm warning from Elsa after the tropical storm lashed the coast overnight.
- Several tornado warnings were issued in Delaware and New Jersey late Thursday and early Friday as the tropical storm moved through.
- A First Alert goes back in effect from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday due to another round of scattered severe storms.
Tropical Storm Elsa is moving out of the Philadelphia region after bringing heavy downpours to many neighborhoods, and strong wind gusts and severe weather threats to the New Jersey and Delaware coasts.
The storm spawned several tornado warnings in Delaware and New Jersey late Thursday and early Friday night, though all warnings had expired as of 5:15 a.m. Friday. It was unclear if any twisters actually touched down.
Ahead of Elsa arriving, severe scattered thunderstorms hit the area Thursday afternoon, with heavy downpours and strong winds. More stormy weather is expected to follow the fast-moving Elsa on Friday.
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Tropical Storm Elsa Moves Out After Bringing Storm Warnings to NJ, Delaware
Elsa mostly struck as people slept.
Heavy rain spread into central southern Delaware and parts of South Jersey late Thursday night as Elsa arrived. The storm moved through coastal Delaware and South Jersey and up to Philadelphia and the suburbs through early Friday morning.
By 6 a.m., the rain from Elsa, which was centered off the coast, was already moving out of Philadelphia. By that time, back edges of the storm were still striking South Jersey and Jersey Shore communities. Shortly after 6:30, the sun could be seen pushing through in Atlantic City.
By 8:15 a.m., only some light rain remained in the more northern parts of the Jersey Shore.
The National Weather Service had issued a tropical storm warning for southern Delaware and the entire Jersey Shore ahead of the storm. That warning expired around 5 a.m.
The alert said that the winds from Elsa in Atlantic, Cape May, Rehoboth Beach and neighboring communities were expected to be up to 40 to 45 mph -- 39 mph is the minimum for tropical storm winds -- with gusts nearing 50 mph.
The biggest gust reported in our area was a 79 mph gust in Sea Isle early Friday.
Coastal communities in Delaware and New Jersey got the most rain from Elsa.
Authorities in Egg Harbor Township blamed the storm for knocking out utility poles that closed Longport Boulevard (Route 152) between Bay Avenue in Somers Point and Ocean Drive. Crews hoped to get the road open late Friday night. In the meantime, drivers will be detoured onto the Margate Causeway and the Route 52 Causeway into Ocean City.
Also, be careful down the shore as strong rip currents and large waves could pose swimming hazards throughout Friday.
Before reaching the Delaware beaches and Jersey Shore, Tropical Storm Elsa struck the Carolinas, having weakened to 40 mph winds. The storm left at least one dead in Florida and 10 hurt in Georgia.
Friday Storm Threat
Humidity sticks around after Elsa moves out, leading to more storms Friday afternoon and evening. These storms could quickly develop.
The NBC10 First Alert Weather Team has issued another First Alert for heavy downpours and damaging winds throughout the Philadelphia region as more storms pop-up from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday.
Power outages also can't be ruled out, so be sure to charge your devices.
Speaking of your devices, keep checking back with the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team on air and always on the app for the latest on the wild weather.
