Heavy rain, possible tornadoes in Philly region today; flight delays at PHL, tornado confirmed in northern Delaware (2024)

As It Happened Aug. 9, 7:00 p.m. ET

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Aug. 9, 10:44 a.m. ET

Not much rain has fallen in the region since daybreak Friday, and after two positively drizz-mal days, the skies at times perhaps appeared surprisingly brightened.

But the showers and storms are coming, said Ray Martin, lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service Office in Mount Holly, with the early afternoon to 6 p.m. the likeliest window for the worst of it.

Aug. 9, 7:00 p.m. ET

Heavy rain bands were approaching the Philly region Friday afternoon, threatening the late-day commute, and winds were gusting past 40 mph resulting in about 25,000 power outages and numerous downed trees in Southeastern Pennsylvania and South Jersey.

However, after awaking to a battery of end-of-the-world warnings and advisories following one wild night in the atmosphere, it was evident that Philadelphia would escape the worst effects of what was left of erstwhile Hurricane Debby.

Aug. 9, 5:04 p.m. ET

Tuesday night’s Zach Bryan concert at Lincoln Financial Field saw Bryan take the stage an hour late due to torrential downpours forcing 60,000 fans to shelter. The storm could have put a damper on things if it weren’t for a surprise performance by Bruce Springsteen later that night.

But not every performer or venue has “The Boss” in their back pocket, and sometimes events get canceled altogether (albeit rarely).

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Aug. 9, 4:12 p.m. ET

Some Debby-remnant showers finally have worked their way into the region, and the National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for central parts of Bucks andMontgomery Counties until 8 p.m.

The areas included Doylestown and Hatfield.

Aug. 9, 3:34 p.m. ET

The National Weather Service has posted an advisory for nuisance flooding along the Delaware River.

The river is forecast to crest at minor flood stage, about 2 feet above normal, along Washington Avenue in Philly at 6 p.m. Friday, and an hour later at Burlington.

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Aug. 9, 2:00 p.m. ET

The government’s Storm Prediction Center has extended the tornado watch to 10 p.m. in Bucks and Mercer Counties.

The watch for other counties in region expired at 2 p.m.

Aug. 9, 1:02 p.m. ET

The Philadelphia International Airport is reporting 57 cancellations and 247 delays as of just before 1 p.m., PHL spokesperson Heather Redfern confirmed, with most travel issues impacting other destinations in the Northeast.

All departing flights are also operating on a 75 to 90 minute delay issued by the Federal Aviation Administration due to the weather.

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Aug. 9, 12:20 p.m. ET

Rain bands in Maryland were expected to approach Philadelphia during the afternoon and could arrive during the peak commuting periods, said Alyssa Glenny, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc.

“We’re definitely concerned about that,” she said. On summer Friday’s, people tend to leave work earlier.

Aug. 9, 11:50 a.m. ET

As former hurricanes for eons, Debby has undergone a meteorological metamorphosis this week.

Once upon a time a few days ago, it was a category 1 hurricane making landfall at the Big Bend region of Florida. It became a “tropical storm,” a “depression,” and now is deemed a “post-tropical storm.”

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Aug. 9, 11:32 a.m. ET

A gust of 37 mph – near tropical-storm strength – has been recorded at Philadelphia International Airport, and “frequent” gusts up to 50 mph are expected this afternoon.

The National Weather Service has posted a wind advisory in effect until this evening, warning that power outages are possible with tree roots compromised by wet soil.

Aug. 9, 11:00 a.m. ET

All that Debby-related moisture has resulted in some lottery-ball rain totals this week.

In the last 24 hours, 6.31 inches of rain was measured Thursday in Bear, New Castle County, the National Weather Service reported. With over 4.51 inches in Coatesville, Chester County.

Aug. 9, 10:20 a.m. ET

The tornado that struck Marshallton in northern Delaware was an EF1 on the Enhanced Fujita scale with peak winds of 95 mph, the National Weather Service reported.

It traveled just 1.13 miles, cutting a 150-yard-wide path, both typical for tornadoes that size.

Aug. 9, 7:40 a.m. ET

The National Weather Service says it expects “favorable conditions” for tornadoes during the day Friday, and again with the approach of a squall line in the late afternoon or early evening.

“You’re working with a lot of juice in the atmosphere,” said Dave Dombek, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc.

Aug. 9, 7:30 a.m. ET

The core of Debby’s remnants are due to pass well to the west of Philly on Friday, and that could put the region in an especially dicey position, forecasters are warning, with the potential for tornadoes.

Thursday night — when Debby, downgraded to a depression, was still in the Deep South — was quite a prequel.

Aug. 9, 7:25 a.m. ET

Friday could be yet another rough day at Philadelphia International Airport, where FlightAware.com reported 334 arrival and departure delays Thursday.

In addition, inbound flights being held at their points of origin an average of 28 minutes, said airport spokesperson Heather Redfern.

Aug. 9, 7:00 a.m. ET

The National Weather Serivce says that a confirmed tornado has been touched down in Marshallton, New Castle County, which is about seven miles west of Wllmington.

The agency said the twister, located over Pike Creek in north-central New Castle County, was confirmed around 7:15 p.m. by law enforcement authorities.