Tornado Watch Issued For Most Of Region; Flood Watch Remains In Effect
By Kate Bilo
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In the wake of the heavy rainfall dumped on our area from Tropical Storm Andrea, we now have more heavy rain crossing the region today - and perhaps yet another chance for flooding later in the week. A Tornado Watch was also issued for Philadelphia along with most of the southeast Pennsylvania viewing area and southern New Jersey. The tornado watch is in effect until 10 p.m.
The latest round of weather has saturated the ground and the creeks and streams are running high. Without a long stretch of dry weather to bring things back to baseline, we'll have to be concerned about yet more runoff, especially in the flood-prone areas adjacent to area waterways.
Monday's rain will come in fits and starts - showers and thunderstorms associated with series of pulses or disturbances rolling through and a warm front that will stall over the area. So even though the rain is not steady all day, this type of convective precipitation can easily dump an inch of rain in less than an hour on our area. There is a ton of moisture in the atmosphere to draw from, and any burst of rainfall will be a gutter-gusher.
Tornado Watch: Details
VIEW: Live Radarhttp://weather.philadelphia.cbslocal.com/auto/kywV3/Region/Northeast/2xRadar.html?gimg=http://llnw.radar.cbslocal.com/anim/kyw/radar1_anim.gif>itle=CBS3%20Radar
The Flood Watch is in effect until 2 a.m. Tuesday for much of the region and we may see additional flood warnings on streams and creeks depending on where the heaviest cells develop.
Later this week, on Thursday, we expect yet another disturbance to roll through with the threat for more heavy rain, leading to a renewed flood threat and a very wet or even delayed start to the US Open tournament at Merion.
