Philadelphia Flooding Follows Record Rainfall
Philadelphia flooding continues, following record rainfall on Sunday. Strong storms caused heavy rainfall that measured over 8 inches. The previous record was 6.63 inches on September 16, 1999.
The rain has caused a power outage at Philadelphia International Airport. Due to the failure of several generators, some sections of the airport are still without power. As reported by Yahoo News, American Airlines was forced to cancel 17 flights since Sunday, due to the outage.
For the month of July, 13 inches of rain were recorded in Philadelphia. The previous record was in July 1994, with nearly 11 inches. The ground was already saturated before Sunday’s rainfall, contributing to the Philadelphia flooding.
Flooded roads are also causing problems for residents. Route 103 remains closed, as officials monitor the water level. Detours have slowed traffic, causing up to two-hour delays on the Atlantic City Parkway.
As reported by Philly.com, Numerous drivers were stranded when they drove onto flooded roads. A 21-year-old woman was killed when she accidentally swerved into the Schuykill River during a period of heavy rainfall.
Lightning strikes were another concern. One home caught on fire following a lightning strike. However, the fire was minor and nobody was injured.
Ted Marvel was on his way home from a festival when he encountered numerous flooded roads:
“When I tried to turn a couple corners in Camben, the intersections were seriously flooded… it was deep and it was coming over people’s [car] grilles.”
The Philadelphia flooding is expected to subside within the week. The weather is expected to become more stable as drier and less humid conditions are forecast.
Travelers who have flights booked with American Airlines are encouraged to contact 1-800-446-7834 for updated flight information. The airport is offering general flight information to all passengers at 1-800-745-4283.
The Pennsylvania flooding will linger for a few days. However, July 2013 will likely be remembered as the month that broke several records for rainfall.
[Image via Flickr]
