Philadelphia, PA – The Northeast was battered by severe storms, intense lightning, and flash flood warnings Wednesday night, leaving at least one man dead, over a dozen injured, and prompting widespread weather alerts across Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As dangerous conditions persist, forecasters warn that more storms and extreme heat are on the way Thursday.
Rain Pushes Into Chester and Berks Counties
Around 9 p.m. Wednesday, moderate rainfall began moving into Chester County, particularly along Route 1 in East Nottingham, heading toward Coatesville. Meanwhile, another intense line of storms pushed into Berks County, contributing to the already saturated ground.
With multiple recent storms, the ground has reached its rainfall limit, causing the NBC10 First Alert Weather Team to issue warnings about flash flooding potential.
Flash Flood Watch Across the Philadelphia Region
The entire Philadelphia region is under a Level 2 of 4 flash flood risk, primarily due to heavy rainfall falling over Ewing and Trenton, NJ, and Yardley, PA. As of 8 p.m., the National Weather Service also issued a Flash Flood Warning for Bucks County until 11:45 p.m., impacting towns including Eldridge Park, Trevose, Fairless Hills, and Yardley.
These locations have faced relentless rain over the last week, dramatically increasing the likelihood of roadway ponding, neighborhood flooding, and power outages.
Lightning Strike Kills Man, Injures 14 at NJ Archery Range
A tragic lightning strike at the Black Knight Bow Benders Archery Range in Jackson Township, NJ, turned deadly Wednesday evening. At approximately 7 p.m., lightning struck the outdoor facility, fatally injuring 61-year-old Robert Montgomery and injuring 14 others, including children as young as 7 years old.
“One person lost consciousness but regained it shortly after,” said Jackson Township police, who confirmed that members of the Jackson Cub Scout Pack 204 were attending an event when the strike occurred.
The incident prompted CPR on multiple victims and led to a multi-agency emergency response.
Thursday: Dangerous Heat, Wildfire Smoke, and Football
While Thursday is expected to bring partly cloudy skies, lingering Canadian wildfire smoke will remain aloft, producing a mild haze but no major air quality issues.
Temperatures will be more moderate, with highs in the low 80s and lower humidity. But heat-sensitive individuals are still advised to take precautions as the region stabilizes from recent storms.
For sports fans, Eagles Preseason Kickoff weather looks favorable. Kickoff at 7:30 p.m. is expected to bring upper 70s temperatures, dropping into the low 70s by the 4th quarter under clear skies — a much-needed moment of calm after a chaotic weather week.
Have you experienced flooding, lightning, or storm damage in your area? Share your story in the comments and help spread awareness
