Thunderstorms Likely in Philadelphia Area Tonight

Bring an umbrella if you go out tonight. There's an 80 percent chance of rain, plus a flash flood watch through Tuesday evening.

The National Weather Service is reporting a high chance of rain tonight, with the region in a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 p.m.

Strong storms have already developed in Central Pennsylvania. In addition to an 80 percent chance of rain Monday, the NWS also forecasts a 70 percent chance of rain on Tuesday night. A flash flood watch (details below) has been issued for Philadelphia and surrounding counties through Tuesday evening.

There is some good news: The weather should get cooler starting Wednesday, with highs in the region expected to be in the low 80s the rest of the week. So nice!

[NWS]

Flash Flood Watch
FLOOD WATCH
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
302 PM EDT MON JUL 14 2014

NEW CASTLE-CECIL-SUSSEX-WARREN-MORRIS-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET- MIDDLESEX-WESTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN- NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON- CARBON- MONROE-BERKS- LEHIGH- NORTHAMPTON- DELAWARE- PHILADELPHIA-WESTERN CHESTER-EASTERN CHESTER-WESTERN MONTGOMERY-EASTERN MONTGOMERY-UPPER BUCKS-LOWER BUCKS- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF…WILMINGTON…ELKTON…NEWTON… WASHINGTON… MORRISTOWN… FLEMINGTON… SOMERVILLE… NEW BRUNSWICK… FREEHOLD… TRENTON… PENNSVILLE… GLASSBORO… CAMDEN…CHERRY HILL… MOORESTOWN… MOUNT HOLLY… JIM THORPE… STROUDSBURG… READING… ALLENTOWN… BETHLEHEM… EASTON… MEDIA… PHILADELPHIA… HONEY BROOK… OXFORD… WEST CHESTER… KENNETT SQUARE… COLLEGEVILLE… POTTSTOWN… NORRISTOWN… LANSDALE… CHALFONT… PERKASIE… MORRISVILLE… DOYLESTOWN
302 PM EDT MON JUL 14 2014

…FLASH FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING…

THE FLASH FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR

* PORTIONS OF NORTHERN DELAWARE…NORTHEAST MARYLAND…NEW JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA…INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS…IN NORTHERN DELAWARE…NEW CASTLE. IN NORTHEAST MARYLAND…CECIL. IN NEW JERSEY… CAMDEN… GLOUCESTER… HUNTERDON… MERCER… MIDDLESEX…MORRIS…NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON…SALEM… SOMERSET… SUSSEX…WARREN AND WESTERN MONMOUTH. IN PENNSYLVANIA… BERKS… CARBON… DELAWARE… EASTERN CHESTER… EASTERN MONTGOMERY… LEHIGH… LOWER BUCKS…MONROE… NORTHAMPTON… PHILADELPHIA… UPPER BUCKS…WESTERN CHESTER AND WESTERN MONTGOMERY.

* THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING

* SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL BRING LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN TO OUR REGION FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY AND INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF ONE TO THREE INCHES OR MORE MAY FALL IN A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME RESULTING IN FLASH FLOODING.

* FLOODING OF ROADWAYS AND AREAS OF POOR DRAINAGE IS POSSIBLE. QUICK RISES ON STREAMS AND CREEKS MAY RESULT FROM THE HEAVY RAIN. IF YOU LIVE IN A FLOOD PRONE AREA BE SURE TO PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THIS DEVELOPING WEATHER SITUATION.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A FLASH FLOOD WATCH MEANS THAT CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP THAT LEAD TO FLASH FLOODING. FLASH FLOODING IS VERY DANGEROUS.

BE SURE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION IF A FLASH FLOOD WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR LOCATION.