Tornado watch across Philadelphia area as Debby arrives. Tracking weather warnings and alerts
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A tornado watch has been issued for the entire Philadelphia region as Debby heads toward the region.
The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center issued the alert Friday morning. It's set to expire at 2 p.m.
What is a tornado watch and what is a tornado warning?
A tornado watch means there are conditions favorable for a tornado to a form, like possible rotation in the atmosphere. A watch means people in the affected area should be on the lookout for further developments, like a tornado warning.
A tornado warning means a tornado has been spotted or detected on weather radar, and people in the affected area should take shelter.
Our region has already seen one confirmed tornado this week — in New Castle County, Delaware, an EF-1 tornado tore off part of the roof of an Acme grocery store Thursday night, scattering tree limbs and damaging the cart return at the store. No injuries were reported. The store is closed today because of the damage.
Today, the region is under a 5% risk of a tornado. While that sounds low, we're used to 0%.
The broad circulation around Debby means that some of the outer bands may produce rotating thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. These are generally brief and isolated but of course can be extremely dangerous.
Make sure to have a safe space in mind in case of a tornado warning for your area. If you have a basement in your home, that is likely the safest place. "Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible," the NWS recommends. Other options could be small interior spaces like a bathroom, closet or enclosed hall on the lowest floor of a building.
Debby's path shows worst rain arrives in afternoon
Debby was downgraded from a tropical storm to a tropical depression and then a post-tropical cyclone overnight but will still pack plenty of rain and some severe storm risk for the area.
We've been tracking the storm's path all week, and it looks like the bulk of the rain will fall on central Pennsylvania. However, we'll still see plenty in eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
STORM TIMELINE | As the remnants of #Debby moves through the area here is a timeline for when we could see the peak of the various impacts through the rest of our Friday. We need to stay most weather-aware from lunch through the evening commute. @CBSPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/RAEVYIFN73
— Meteorologist Grant Gilmore (@GrantGilmoreWX) August 9, 2024
The most important time to stay weather aware is between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The region will see at least 1 to 2 inches of rain, but anywhere with a scattered downpour overhead could see a higher rainfall total.
Some scattered downpours were already arriving Friday morning to kick off a long, wet day for the region.
Severe weather risk, flood watch in Philadelphia area
Debby's arrival will lead to multiple weather alerts across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware today. A flood watch is in effect until 1 a.m. Saturday.
There is a flood warning for the Brandywine Creek at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, where the water level was above the minor flood stage, data from the NWS and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Water Prediction Service shows.
Along the Delaware River, a coastal flood advisory is in effect from 4 p.m. Friday until 10 p.m.
The affected areas include Gloucester, Camden and northwestern Burlington counties in New Jersey and Philadelphia, Delaware, and Lower Bucks counties in Pennsylvania.
The Delaware River was already reaching minor flood stage at the monitoring station at Washington Avenue in Philadelphia, during Friday morning's high tide, per the NWS and NOAA data.
The monitoring station in Burlington, New Jersey, also showed the river above the minor flood stage.
At both sites, more river flooding is possible as the next high tide rolls in around 5-6 p.m.
There is also a wind advisory in effect until 8 p.m., again across the entire area. This means strong winds could occur, and smaller objects that could blow away should be tied down or stowed away inside.
Stay with the NEXT Weather team here at CBS News Philadelphia as we continue tracking Debby and its effects on the area.
This is a developing story and will be updated.