Power Outage in Norristown, PA

A large tree limbs estimated at over 8 inches in diameter took down power lines along the southbound side of Allentown Rd near Green Hill Rd and Rising Sun Rd. Time estimated from radar.

Several reports of power lines down in the Conshohocken and Plymouth Meeting areas. Time estimated from radar.

Power poles and lines were downed near West Branch Rd and Wild Run Rd. Time estimated from radar.

Power lines were downed near Moredon Rd. Time estimated from radar.

Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph with multiple downed trees and limbs. Power lines were also downed with several traffic lights out. Time estimated from radar.

Several reports received of downed power lines near Lansdale and North Wales. Time estimated from radar.

Power lines were downed on Landis Mill Rd near Level Rd in Collegeville. Time estimated from radar.

Numerous reports of trees and power lines down in Norristown. Time estimated from radar.

Several reports of downed power lines near Evansburg State Park. Time estimated from radar.

Trees and power lines were downed in Lansdale. Time estimated from radar.

Several reports of trees and power lines down in the area. Also reports of damage to residential fences, shingles, and siding in Hatboro, Horsham, and Willow Grove. Time estimated from radar.

Several trees and power lines were reported down in Bala Cynwyd. Time estimated from radar.

Downed trees and power lines were reported near Melrose Park Station. Time estimated from radar.

Large tree limbs near or greater than one foot in diameter were downed in a residential area. No significant damage was reported, though it appears that a back-yard picket fence was downed. Some limbs appeared to have fallen near power lines, but none were downed according to photographs. Time was estimated by radar.

Several trees and power lines down in Abington.

A severe thunderstorm tore down several trees in Pottstown. Trees were knocked down on Center Avenue, Rosedale Drive and Henry Street. Another tree was struck by lightning and fell down on King Street. A large maple tree fell down onto and damaged the porch of a home on Rosedale Drive. In Stowe (Upper Pottsgrove Township), a tree fell onto a roof of a home. About 740 homes and businesses lost power.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down trees and wires in Upper Hanover Township. Pennsylvania Power and Light reported about 1,000 of its customers in Montgomery and Bucks Counties lost power. All power was restored by 3 p.m. EDT on the 28th.

Double barrel cold fronts helped trigger a series of showers and thunderstorms across southeast Pennsylvania during the morning of the 15th. While the primary impact was flash flooding, some isolated wind and lightning damage also occurred. PECO Energy reported about 3,000 of its customers in Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Bucks County lost power. The adverse weather also caused a ground stop at Philadelphia International Airport.

The combination of the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernnesto and a large high pressure system over eastern Canada produced heavy rain and winds over Montgomery County. The heavy rain also claimed the life of one man. Rain moved into the area around Noon EDT on the 1st and did not exit until the early evening on the 2nd. The heaviest rain fell during the daytime hours on the 2nd. Storm totals averaged around two inches. The heavy rain produced poor drainage flooding as well as some stream and creek flooding. In addition to the heavy rain, persistent east to northeast winds caused tree damage as the heavy rain loosened the root support and weighed down limbs. The strongest winds occurred early on the 2nd. PECO Energy reported 117,000 of its southeastern Pennsylvania customers lost power, with Montgomery and Chester Counties hardest hit in their service area. About 25,600 homes and businesses lost power in the county. About 28,000 of PECO's customers throughout southeastern Pennsylvania were still without power as of 2 p.m. EDT on the 2nd. A 45-year-old Telford Borough man drowned in a swollen drainage pipe trying to rescue his dog. The dog jumped into an overflowing retention basin in Jacob and Mary Stover Park. A strong current created a whirlpool that sucked the dog into the basin drainage pipe. The man went into the basin to rescue the dog, but also was drawn into the outflow pipe. The dog survived after traveling through the pipe and making its way into a creek in the park. In Pottstown, downed trees damaged vehicles. Downed trees forced road closures in Hatfield, Towamencin, Whitpain and Pottstown. The Souderton High School pool was closed through the weekend because a 20 foot by 40 foot section of its metal roof was torn away.The East Branch of the Perkiomen Creek at Schwenksville was above its 7 foot flood stage from 456 p.m. EDT on the 2nd through 1242 a.m. EDT on the 3rd. It crested at 8.23 feet at 730 p.m. EDT. Actual storm totals included 3.12 inches in Hatboro, 3.04 inches in Green Lane, 2.52 inches in Palm, 1.97 inches in Pottstown and 1.74 inches in Norristown. Peak wind gusts included 44 mph in Pottstown and 43 mph at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport.The low pressure system that was Ernesto moved slowly north from around Petersburg, Virginia at 5 p.m. EDT on the 1st, to near Fredericksburg, Virginia at 11 p.m. EDT on the 1st, passed close to Washington D.C. at 5 a.m. EDT on the 2nd, near Hagerstown, Maryland at 8 a.m. EDT on the 2nd, near Altoona, Pennsylvania at 2 p.m. EDT on the 2nd and accelerated northward and was just southeast of Buffalo, New York at 2 a.m. EDT on the 3rd. Of greater importance, was a strong high pressure system (greater than 1032 millibars) that remained over southeastern Canada and maintained the pressure gradient (difference) between it and the remnant low of Ernesto.

A severe thunderstorm caused considerable wind damage and large hail in northeastern Montgomery County in Marlborough, Salford and Franconia Townships. The worst reported damage was in Franconia and Marlborough Townships. In Franconia Township, seven roads were closed because of downed trees. Telephone poles were also snapped. One home was scraped by downed trees. Shingles were ripped away from a few homes. In Marlborough Township, trees greater than 30 inches in diameter were toppled. Upper Ridge, Hendricks, Linsenbagler and East Campbell Roads were hit the hardest by the thunderstorm winds. In addition to the damaging winds, hail as large as golf balls fell in Marlborough Tonwship. About 26,000 PECO Energy customers in southeastern Pennsylvania lost power that night, 15,000 in Montgomery County. Power was not fully restored until the 28th.

The same severe thunderstorm that caused wind damage in upper parts of Montgomery County also caused wind damage in the lower part of the county in Ambler Borough and Lower Gwynedd and Upper Dublin Townships. In Upper Dublin Township, a few large trees were knocked down. One home was damaged. In Ambler Borough, a few wires and trees were knocked down. In Lower Gwynedd Township a few large tree limbs were knocked down. About 26,000 PECO Energy customers lost power in southeastern Pennsylvania, 15,000 in Montgomery County.

An extremely severe thunderstorm knocked down numerous trees and power lines in Upper Merion Township and caused a declaration of disaster emergency by the township. Nineteen homes suffered damage from downed trees, a few families were displaced from their homes as they were condemned. Damage was concentrated in the Bob White Development, the Gulph Mills Neighborhood and Wayne sections of the township. Homes on Shoemaker Lane, Weadley Road, Brookwood Road, Bob White Road and Mallard Road were hit the hardest. The Schuylkill Expressway south of Valley Forge was closed due to downed trees and poor drainage flooding. Roofing material was blown away from a vacant industrial building on South Henderson Road. Large hail also fell with the severe storm as hail as large as half dollar coins fell on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the township. Heavy rain and wind debris (which clogged catch basins) combined to cause poor drainage flooding. About 15,000 of the 26,000 PECO Energy customers to lose power in southeastern Pennsylvania overnight were in Montgomery County. Power was not fully restored to every location until the 28th.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down trees, tree limbs and wires in Montgomery County centered around Lower Gwynedd Township. Nearly 18,000 homes and businesses lost power in Bucks and Montgomery Counties. All power was restored by the evening of the 8th.

A severe thunderstorm caused wind and tree damage throughout a large part of Montgomery County. Hundreds of trees were uprooted or damaged and one person was injured. It took until the weekend of the 22nd and 23rd for most of the power to be restored in the county. some of the hardest hit municipalities included Royersford and Lower Providence. One person was injured in Ambler Borough when a tree crashed through the house. PECO Energy reported 112,274 customers lost power in Montgomery County. Overall 482,068 of PECO's customers lost power in its southeastern Pennsylvania service area, the largest outage ever for a thunderstorm event in their history. It was their largest outage since Isabel in 2003. A wind gust to 53 mph was measured at the Willow Grove Naval Station. A funnel cloud was also sighted over Pottstown, but never touched down.

As thunderstorms rumbled across Montgomery County, several homes were struck by lightning in the Pottstown area during the evening of June 1st. Also, three buildings were struck by lightning in New Hanover. The newspaper 'The Reporter' in Lansdale lost power during the evening of June 1st as lightning struck a utility pole causing the high tension pole to catch fire. The power outage delayed the newspaper printing process during the overnight of June 1st into the early morning of June 2nd. No injuries or major damage were reported.

Around 8 PM EDT, the Montgomery County Geriatric Center, now known as Parkhouse Providence Pointe, in Upper Providence lost power after lightning hit one its transformers. No injuries were reported. A total of 19,000 customers across Montgomery County though lost power during the height of the thunderstorms during the evening of June 1st.

Gusty winds from a thunderstorm downed power lines from Schwenksville to Lansdale between 7:45 PM EDT and 8:00 PM EDT on June 1st.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down a couple of trees and several large tree limbs and wires across the southern tier of Montgomery County near the Philadelphia border. Most of the wind damage was reported in Upper Moreland and Lower Merion Townships. In the Bryn Mawr section of Lower Merion Township, a downed tree blocked a roadway. PECO Energy reported about 30,000 of its customers in southeastern Pennsylvania lost power including Montgomery County.

A line of severe thunderstorms knocked down several trees and wires throughout Montgomery County. The greatest concentration of reported wind damage were in and around Jenkintown and Royersford. About 16,000 homes and businesses lost power in Montgomery County. Power was not fully restored until the 28th.

A severe thunderstorm tore down large tree limbs and wires in central parts of Montgomery County. PECO Energy reported about 60,000 homes and businesses lost power throughout its southeastern Pennsylvania service area including Montgomery County. Most of the power was restored by 2 p.m. EDT the next day (the 7th).

A severe thunderstorm tore down several large limbs and wires in the Wyncote area of Cheltenham Township. PECO Energy reported about 20,000 of its customers lost power because of the severe thunderstorms in its southeastern Pennsylvania service area including Montgomery County.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down a couple of trees and wires in southwestern Montgomery County, mainly near the Delaware County border. PECO Energy reported about 11,000 homes and businesses lost power in their service area.

A severe thunderstorm tore away part of a roof and the gutters from a house in Hatfield Township. A SKYWARN Spotter measured a wind gust to 62 mph. The severe thunderstorm tore down other trees, limbs and wires in and around Hatfield Township in Montgomery County. About 30,000 homes and businesses lost power in Montgomery and Bucks Counties.

A series of thunderstorms with torrential downpours caused widespread poor drainage and stream flooding in lower Montgomery County. Numerous vehicles were stranded in high water with many rescues performed. Several roads and bridges were damaged by flooding streams. Forty-eight homes were damaged, mainly with flooded basements. Three businesses were destroyed. Lower Merion and Springfield Townships and Narberth Borough were among the hardest hit areas. Doppler Radar storm total estimates reached between 4 and 5 inches in Lower Merion Township. PECO Energy reported about 35,000 homes and businesses lost power in their service area including Montgomery County. Creeks that flooded included the Flourtown, Indian, Manor Run, Mill, Park, Sandy Run and Sunnybrook. On August 5th, Governor Ed Rendell declared a state of disaster in Southeastern Pennsylvania. This cleared the way for victims to receive federal funding. This also permitted the state to allocate more resources toward the recovery effort and waived the normal contract and bid process for clean-up efforts. On August 6th, President George W. Bush declared Philadelphia, Delaware and Montgomery Counties disaster areas. This enabled residents and businesses to apply for federal funding. In Lower Merion Township, emergency officials responded to 200 calls for help. Both the Indian and Mill Creeks flooded. Rescuers used boats to help stranded motorists. Two police vehicles were destroyed, one business property was condemned. The R6 SEPTA Regional Rail Line's service was halted for nearly twenty-four hours after a garage was swept onto the train tracks. Some of the worst flooding occurred in the Belmont Hills area where about fifteen homes had more than five feet of water in their basements. In the Gladwyne section along the Narberth Borough border, a bridge to the Rolling Hill Park was washed away. In Narberth Borough, all of the borough's police vehicles were damaged by the flooding. A condominium's garage was totally flooded and damaged all the vehicles and property within it. The Mill Creek flooded within the borough with the heaviest flood damage along Conway, Dudley and Windsor Avenues. In Springfield Township, flooding along the Sunnybrook and Flourtown Creeks led to the closure of seventeen roadways, the evacuation of one home, the buckling of one road and the basement flooding of homes on four blocks in the Oreland section of the township. In Whitemarsh Township, Manor Run Creek flooded and washed away part of Manor Road. Several people were rescued. Homes along Joshua Road had several feet of water in their basements. In Cheltenham Township, roadways, road and foot bridges within parks were damaged. In Upper Dublin Township, the Fort Washington Interchange to the Pennsylvania Turnpike was closed after the Sandy Run flooded. In Horsham Township, flooding along Park Creek closed one road. Specific storm totals included 3.30 inches in Springfield Township, 2.28 inches in Hatboro, 1.84 inches in Norristown and 1.44 inches at the Willow Grove NAS.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down several trees in Lower Salford Township and the Spring Mountain area of Upper Salford Township. A downed tree damaged the deck of a home in Lower Salford Township. About 750 homes and businesses lost power in Montgomery County.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down several trees in Abington Township, Hatfield Township and Lansdale Borough. About 750 homes and businesses lost power because of the wind damage in Montgomery County.

A series of thunderstorms with very heavy rain caused widespread poor drainage and some creek flooding in Montgomery County. Between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. EDT on the 12th at least one quarter of an inch of rain fell every hour at the Philadelphia International Airport. A series of thunderstorms with heavy rain occurred from 630 a.m. through 5 p.m. EDT at the Pottstown Airport. There were many submerged vehicles and flooded basements throughout the county. Many water rescues from stalled vehicles occurred in and around Pottstown. Four people were rescued from an island on the Perkiomen Creek in Skippack Township. The Perkiomen Creek at East Greenville was above its 5 foot flood stage from 731 p.m. EDT through 910 p.m. EDT on the 12th. It crested at 5.21 feet at 830 p.m. EDT. The Manatawny Creek at Pottstown was above its 6 foot flood stage from 251 p.m. EDT on the 12th through 256 a.m. EDT on the 13th. It crested at 9.76 feet at 10 p.m. EDT on the 12th. The heavy rain loosened the soil and caused trees to topple over and take down power lines. About 10,000 homes and businesses in the PECO Energy service area lost power, 6,000 of them occurred in Montgomery County. Storm totals included 5.96 inches in Hatboro, 5.35 inches at the Willow Grove NAS, 5.25 inches in Pottstown, 4.75 inches in Lower Moreland Township, 4.28 inches at the Pottstown Airport, 4.06 inches in Green Lane, 3.40 inches in Palm, 3.25 inches in East Norriton and 3.10 inches in Graterford. Thunderstorms formed and continued to reform north of a nearly stationary front over the Delmarva Peninsula.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down several trees and power lines in Jenkintown and caused power outages.

A severe thunderstorm tore down several trees in an apartment complex in Norristown. Two vehicles were damaged. PECO Energy reported about 6,200 homes and businesses lost power in Montgomery and Bucks Counties.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down a few trees in Cheltenham Township and wires in townships that border Philadelphia. One tree fell onto and damaged a vehicle in Cheltenham. PECO Energy reported about 5,550 of its customers in Montgomery County lost power.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down several trees and wires in Plymouth and Horsham Townships and Hatboro Borough. PECO Energy reported about 5,850 of its customers lost power.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down numerous trees and wires in Cheltenham and Abington Townships and Jenkintown Borough. Hardest hit was the Glenside area of Abington Township. In Glenside, the storage shed of a lumber business collapsed. Downed power lines brought a SEPTA regional commuter train to a halt near the Glenside station for about 25 minutes. Rows of trees were knocked down. Elsewhere in Abington Township, four poles were knocked down along Mount Carmel Avenue. One woman was trapped inside her vehicle when a downed wire came to rest on her minivan. In Cheltenham Township, a downed wire set a vehicle on fire. PECO Energy reported about 20,000 of its customers lost power, mainly in Montgomery County. All power was restored by Noon EDT on the 8th.

A pair of severe thunderstorms tore down trees and wires from Pottstown southeast through Collegeville, Royersford and Abington in Montgomery County. In Pottstown, traffic on Westbound U.S. Route 422 was diverted onto Pennsylvania State Route 100 after a downed large tree blocked the road. Downed trees closed roads in New Hanover and Upper Pottsgrove Townships. One tree fell onto a house in Collegeville. PECO Energy reported about 79,000 of its customers were without power including Montgomery County.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down trees and wires in and around East Norriton Township. PECO Energy reported about 6,000 of its customers lost power in Montgomery County.

A severe thunderstorm pulled down large tree limbs and wires along Byberry Road in Lower Moreland Township. PECO Energy reported about 15,000 of its customers lost power in Montgomery and Bucks Counties.

A microburst caused considerable tree damage in a ten block area of Abington Township. Trees as large as 90 foot elms were knocked down. About 40 homeowners reported tree damage. One motorist was injured when a tree fell on his minivan and trapped him. Several homes were damaged by downed trees. Damage was concentrated in the area bounded by Susquehanna Road, Welsh Road, Edge Hill Road and York Road. The worst damage occurred on Edge Hill Road, Rockwell Avenue, Jericho Road and Wheatsheaf Road. One tree was also uprooted in Upper Moreland Township. PECO Energy reported 6,000 of its customers lost power. All power was restored by the morning of the 12th.

Damaging winds pulled down trees and wires across central Montgomery County from Norristown to North Wales. Several roads were blocked. At least one vehicle was damaged by fallen trees. PECO Energy reported about 20,200 customers lost power in Bucks and Montgomery Counties because of the winds.

A squall line of severe thunderstorms knocked down several trees and numerous power lines throughout Montgomery County. Pennsylvania Power and Light and PECO Energy reported about 27,000 customers lost power in their service area in southeast Pennsylvania.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down several trees and power lines throughout the county. The greatest concentration of outages occurred in the Jenkintown and Abington areas. There were several reports of pea size hail in the county. PECO Energy reported about 31,000 homes and businesses lost power in their service area throughout southeast Pennsylvania.

A severe thunderstorm knocked down tree limbs and wires across the lower (southern) half of Montgomery County. Lower Merion Township had numerous tree limbs down. PECO Energy reported 3,600 homes and businesses lost power in the county. In Upper Gwynedd Township, a lightning strike ignited a fire in the attic space of an apartment building. The fire burned inside and outside the roof which collapsed. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries and seventeen people were left homeless.