Lehigh Valley

FIRST ALERT: Heavy Rain Causes Flash Flooding, Prompts Highway Shut Downs

Waves of blinding downpours began hitting parts of the area late Sunday night and will continue through Monday.

Storms caused flooding and damage to parts of the area Monday. How long will the wet weather last? NBC10 First Alert Weather meteorologist Krystal Klei has the forecast.

What to Know

  • Severe storms caused flooding in various parts of the area Monday.
  • Dozens of water rescues were reported in Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties.
  • Storms will continue Tuesday though they won't be as severe.

A strong line of storms dumped heavy rain on much of the Philadelphia region Monday, causing flash flooding, travel delays and water rescues.

Waves of blinding downpours inundated highways across the region and prompted dozens of car rescues in Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties, officials said.

An Upper Darby police officer responding to flash floods in the area was almost swept away by water. Fortunately he wasn't seriously hurt and was treated at the hospital.

Several cars parked along Marshall Road in Upper Darby were covered in water up to their windshields, NBC10 footage showed. Police there fished out passengers trapped inside vehicles.

A 13-year-old boy who was swept away by raging water in a Chester County creek had to be rescued by responding crews but also wasn't seriously hurt.

Darby Borough declared a state of emergency due to the flooding which prompted evacuations and closures on 13th, 14th and Tyler streets as well as 896 Marin St. and Springfield Road. The Red Cross set up an area for evacuees in the Borough Hall on 1020 Ridge Ave. in Darby.

Crews in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties spent Monday night searching for people who rented from a rafting company in Nesquehoning but were unaccounted for following the storms. They were eventually able to find everyone and confirm all the rafters were safe.

As a result of these dangerous water levels, authorities forced drivers off Interstate 76 at the Route 202 interchange in King of Prussia. Drivers were forced onto emergency access roads.

Flood waters also poured into the King of Prussia Mall, closing stores and stranding drivers in the parking garage.

I-276 was also closed near Valley Forge.

Amy Sharp
Jim Reimer
Flooding in West Conshohocken near Balligomingo Rd.
Allison Martin
The First Alert Weather team says this could be a land spout captured by NBC10 viewer Allison Martin in Oxford, PA Monday afternoon.
William Dormon III
Marshall Road near Copley Road in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania was left flooded on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018.
submitted photo
I-76E near Green Lane exit was described as a swimming pool by this NBC10 viewer.
Nathan Okuley
Rt 12 Warren St Bypass flooded in Reading, PA area.
@bdurkin2
A motorist had to be rescued from flooding on Henderson road in King of Prussia.
submitted photo
Flooding on Sanatoga road in Pottstown.
Avoid area in front of #Radnor Middle School #waynepa @NBCPhiladelphia https://t.co/BdtbP7VFwa Avoid area in front of #Radnor Middle School #waynepa @NBCPhiladelphia https://t.co/BdtbP7VFwa
james ettinger
flooding on rt 422 birdsboro pa 19508 close road at the store of all about floors on rt 422 west bound Road is closed
‎Karen Gold
Flooding at First Ave and American Ave, King of Prussia, Pa
Philadelphia Police
Flooding along 3600 block of B Street in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Police
Flooding along 300 E. Erie Ave., Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Police
Flooding closed the 3400 block of N.6Th St. in Philadelphia.
NBC10 Lauren Mayk
Cars in flood waters in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Havertown, Pa.

Rainfall rates during Monday's sudden downpours ranged from 1 to 4 inches per hour. 

The unpredictable storms affected passengers at Philadelphia International Airport, which cautioned travelers to check their flight status for delays before heading out.

Train and bus passengers also experienced delays.

A flood warning remains for the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia Monday evening into Tuesday. The river is expected to rise above flood stage to nearly 12.2 feet by Tuesday morning leading to minor flooding.

The storms will continue Tuesday before finally clearing out. By Wednesday and Thursday, the dog days of summer return with high temperatures and humidity. 

MON: Variable clouds with widespread heavy t-storms forming, especially afternoon and evening hours. Flooding possible. HIGH: 84
TUE: Scattered afternoon and evening t-storms possible. HIGH: 85
WED: Mostly sunny and hot. HIGH: 90
THU: Partly sunny and hot. HIGH: 90
FRI: Chance of t-storms in the afternoon and evening. HIGH: 88
SAT: Partly sunny. HIGH: 87

Stick with the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team on air and online for the latest on possible watches and warnings throughout the weekend.

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